held up, ridden 10th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led until 6th, chased winner, ridden after 8th, mistake 10th, pulled up before 11th
took keen hold, prominent, not fluent 6th and lost place, mistake 10th, headway after 11th, weakened 4 out
held up, headway after 6th, every chance after 3 out, weakened approaching last
always prominent, slightly hampered 3rd, led 6th, not fluent 2 out, stayed on gamely
held up, headway after 6th, switched right after 4 out, edged right after 2 out, every chance last, kept on towards finish
held up in touch, hit 10th, soon struggling
Kosmos Bleu gets the vote over L'orphelin, with Major Euro seen as the other main danger. Kosmos Bleu was a model of consistency as a novice last season, winning twice and never far away in four other completed starts. He can be counted unlucky on what was his final outing at Newton Abbot in April, as he was travelling supremely well when coming down at the 10th fence. His main rival today, L'orphelin, finished third at the west-country track, but with a clear round, Robert Alner's charge is taken to gain revenge as they meet on the same terms. Of the rest, Major Euro is worth a second look as he won well enough at Market Rasen in April. Back from a summer break, he might find conditions a bit too testing here though and will do well to trouble the selection on form. In contrast, ex-French Chantoue Royale will not mind conditions here after running with credit despite the fast ground at Huntingdon in June, but she has to carry topweight and will find that tough. Kosmos Bleu starts the current campaign on a mark of 110 and it will be disappointing if he cannot make the most of that rating.
Chantoue Royale (FR) 11-4 (10-9) Held up in touch, chased leader 4 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on under pressure approaching last, 3rd of 5, 2l behind Cigarillo (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (E) gf in Jun '04.
L'orphelin 20-1 (11-12) Led, blundered 12th and rider lost iron briefly, mistake 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, rallied flat, no extra, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Ojays Alibi (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Apr.
Kosmos Bleu (FR) 9-4fav (11-7) Chasing leader and every chance when fell at the 10th in race won by Ojays Alibi (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Bunkum 25-1 (11-6) Held up, hit 6th, ridden after 7th and pulled up at the 8th in race won by Hawthorn Prince (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in May, 11 ran.
Major Euro (IRE) 40-1 (11-6) Led until 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 8, 2l behind Feel The Pride (11-5) at Warwick 2m nov chs (D) gf in May.
Mon Mome (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division when unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Nazimabad (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd in Oct, 15 ran.
Flahive's First 20-1 (11-1) In rear, badly hampered and unseated rider at the 7th in race won by Runaway Bishop (10-1) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
