held up disputing 3rd place behind leading pair, driven along and struggling in 4th place before 2 out
led, clear 12th, 3 lengths ahead after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace, just held on for 2nd
held up disputing 3rd behind clear leading pair, reached for 11th, 2nd place approaching 13th, 3 lengths down after 3 out and closing, led approaching the last, in command in closing stages ( limited comments due to poor visibility)
held up last, not fluent 11th, closer order into 3rd 2 out, kept on well in closing stages, almost snatched 2nd
tracked leader and clear of rest, lost 2nd before 13th, well behind 4 out, tailed off
Top Notch will probably be a short-priced favourite but he’s only beaten small fields at Warwick and Plumpton and there are serious concerns over this step up in trip against more experienced chasers. At the likely odds, we’d rather take a chance on equally unexposed stable companion HAMMERSLY LAKE as the latter ran the well-regarded Le Prezien to four lengths at Cheltenham last time over a trip too short and is getting 7lb. It’s 18 months since Caid Du Berlais last ran over fences and he was pulled up last time over hurdles while Sizing Codelco still appears out of sorts. Solstice Star was well behind Top Notch on his chasing bow and may need more time.
Caid Du Berlais (FR) 9-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (1) hvy in Nov.
Sizing Codelco (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Towards rear when mistake 4th, pulled up before 9th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Top Notch (FR) 2-5fav (11-5) Jumped well, made all, clear when shaken up between last 2, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 2m 1f (3) gs in Nov beating Romain De Senam (10-7) by 6l, 4 ran.
Hammersly Lake (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Held up in last, shaken up and closed after 3 out, left 2nd from 2 out, no impression on winner from last, kept on, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Le Prezien (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Solstice Star 10-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 24 3/4l behind Charbel (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m (3) gd in Oct.
