led, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden and hard pressed, headed approaching last, well held in clear 2nd flat
chased leader until outpaced in clear 3rd 4 out, no chance with front pair after
held up in rear, lost touch after 4th, continued tailed off
in touch in 3rd, tracked leader 4 out, not fluent next, soon ridden, challenged after 2 out, led approaching last, clear flat, stayed on well
Pougne Bobbi must be noted on this hurdling debut for Nicky Henderson but faces some useful and more experienced rivals. Nansaroy already has a course and distance win to his name but it was unlikely he'd have followed up the last day when unseating at Haydock. Nevertheless, he should go well but Dan Skelton has brought ROBIN OF LOCKSLEY along nice and steadily and the Southwell winner can oblige again with the underrated Bridget Andrews claiming a healthy 5lb which may just swing the pendulum in favour of the selection under testing conditions. Aurillac has some fair bumper form and should do well over timber in time.
Robin Of Locksley (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders going well, 2nd approaching 2 out, led travelling well between last two, in command when left in clear lead last, won at Southwell 2m 4f mdn (5) hvy in Dec beating Mountain Eagle (11-0) by 5l, 7 ran.
Aurillac (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Led, headed 2f out, ridden and one pace in 4th over 1f out, kept on into 3rd inside final furlong, not reach front pair, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Ballyandy (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m lst (1) gs in Nov.
Looksnowtlikebrian (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Close up, ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 9, 26 1/4l behind Baoulet Delaroque (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Jan.
Pougne Bobbi (FR) 12-1 (10-10) Held up in touch on inside, lost place and not much room over 4f out, switched right over 3f out, effort 2f out, unable to quicken final 75 yards, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Ballinure (11-0) at Warwick 2m (6) gs in May.
Nansaroy 11-8fav (11-5) Tracked leader, driven to challenge 2 out, held in 2nd when stumbled on landing and unseated rider last, at Haydock 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec.
Briac (FR) 22-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden 3 out, some headway next, soon weakened, 5th of 13, dist behind Gwafa (11-4) at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
