held up in rear, headway 5th, challenged going well 3 out, led before last, clear flat, easily
led until after 1st, led before next, headed approaching 3 out, 3rd and beaten next, weakened
mid-division, headway after 4th, went 2nd next, led before 3 out, soon pressed, ridden and headed approaching last, no chance with winner flat
pulled hard, led after 1st, headed before next, lost place 4th, soon weakened, pulled up after 7th
held up in rear, behind 5th, pulled up after 7th
in touch, not fluent 4th, close up when mistake 7th, lost place 3 out, weakened
tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 2nd, weakening when mistake 6th, pulled up after next
chased leaders, lost place after 5th, weakened before 7th
It's a year to the day since ALCALA (NAP) was last seen on a racecourse. He started odds-on for his hurdling debut at Exeter but made mistakes and was eased approaching the last. That was hopefully only a blip as he was a decent sort in bumpers who should do well over timber. Captain McGinley proved one-paced in bumpers and has never raced on ground this quick but Nutcracker Prince had a spin on the all-weather recently to blow away any cobwebs and is preferred to ex-pointer Marquis Of Carabas. Suffice was second in a novices' handicap at Uttoxeter last December but is thoroughly exposed.
Alcala (FR) 10-11fav (10-12) Chased leaders, in 4th before 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 17, 20 3/4l behind Hello George (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gs in Oct.
Brise Coeur (FR) (8-12) 7th of 8, 19 3/4l behind Zack Hope (9-1) at Compiegne 1m 6f stks hvy in Mar.
Captain McGinley (IRE) 15-8fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, lost a few places over 5f out, went 3rd but weakened over 2f out, 3rd of 9, dist behind Ballywilliam (11-5) at Chepstow 2m mdn (6) sft in Feb.
Dounya's Boy 150-1 (11-0) Always behind, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Countersign (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in May.
Gardiners Hill (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Close up, led after 2nd, headed 5 out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, dist behind Black Iceman (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn (4) gf in Jun.
Nutcracker Prince 50-1 (9-12) Held up towards rear, ridden and struggling over 3f out, 9th of 12, 22 1/4l behind Bess Of Hardwick (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct.
Suffice (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Mid-division on outside, tracked leaders after 5th, effort to challenge on outside when blundered 2 out, ridden and one pace before last, stayed on to chase winner flat, always held, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Hollywood All Star (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Verve Argent (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Towards rear, dropped to rear after 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 2m 3f mdn (3) gs in Nov.
Marquis Of Carabas (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place, no chance with front pair final furlong, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Last Summer (11-0) at Worcester 2m (6) gd in May.
