pressed leader, led narrowly 6th, ridden and headed before 3 out, plugged on same pace
prominent, led before 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, stayed on well, always doing enough
led narrowly, headed and remained close up 6th, weakened home turn, well beaten when pulled up before 2 out
in rear, pushed along home turn, no progress
chased leaders, not fluent 3 out and ridden, soon weakened quickly
chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, kept on, no impression
towards rear, in touch, headway after 4 out, went close 2nd approaching 3 out where jumped left, soon ridden, kept on, mistake last and always held run-in
NonRunner
NonRunner
Sidi Ismael goes well fresh and is better treated over hurdles than fences at present. In good form before the turn of the year, he’s not without a chance in this if wind surgery has had the desired effect. Oscar Montel pops up every now but GENTLEMAN VALLEY is less exposed. The latter looks a tricky customer and has tended to produce his best form after a break but we’ll take a chance that a recent victory at Uttoxeter hasn’t soured his attitude. Punxsutawney Phil has been in good form over fences while Come On Gruff won here and at Ludlow last season and should stay the longer trip. Guerlain De Vaux is preferred to Flagrant Delitiep and the returning Aimee De Sivola of the others.
Aimee De Sivola (FR) 6-4fav (11-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, pushed along and soon beaten, kept on one pace, last of 3, 9 1/2l behind No Anxiety (10-13) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Sidi Ismael (FR) 14-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, closed 6th, ridden and weakened after 8th, weakened 4 out, 7th of 12, dist behind Serious Charges (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Flagrant Delitiep (FR) 6-4fav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, hit 18th and next, dropped to 4th briefly before 3 out, rallied into 3rd again soon after, soon ridden and beaten, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 4, dist behind Musical Slave (11-0) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Domaine De L'Isle (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Off the pace towards rear, behind when mistake 11th, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out, at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Come On Gruff (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Chased leader, mistake 7th, lost 2nd next, went 2nd again before 3 out, challenging when not fluent last, rider soon lost left iron, stayed on, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Picanha (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Punxsutawney Phil (IRE) 2-1jfav (11-4) In rear, bumped 1st, headway before not fluent 3 out, not much room 2 out, looking held when mistake and left 2nd last, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 7, 4 3/4l behind Fairway Freddy (11-7) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Gentleman Valley (FR) 8-1 (12-1) Unruly unseated rider before start and led in, fly-jumped as tapes rose, held up towards rear, good headway chasing leaders 3 out, led before the last where stumbled, ridden and stayed on run-in, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Sep beating Balearic (11-6) by 1 3/4l, 16 ran.
Guerlain De Vaux (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Always behind, struggling after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up soon after, at Newbury 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Oscar Montel (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Mid-division, pushed along and headway to dispute 2nd 2 out, ridden before last, ran on one pace, 4th of 8, 4 1/4l behind Geordie Des Champs (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
