with leader, led 3rd, headed before next, ridden 3 out, one pace last
chased leaders on inside, challenged from 3 out, led before last, clear flat, easily
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner, stayed on
held up towards rear, jumped left when in last pair 6th, soon lost touch
mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led before 4th, ridden 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat
led until 3rd, pushed along and lost place 5th, weakened well before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chasing leaders next, no extra flat
held up in rear, some headway before 3 out, no impression, weakened before next
Affaire D'honneur has failed to figure since winning at Fontwell but Prime Venture ran well again at Lingfield having won at Sedgefield before that. Both are penalised and so is CONSTANTINE BAY, who made a winning start in a novice hurdle at Haydock in November. With Nicky Henderson’s yard hitting top form subsequently, he’s taken to go in again. The remainder have yet to figure over hurdles but Smoking Dixie and Lord Bryan have both placed in bumpers and can finish closer today.
Affaire D'Honneur (FR) 16-1 (10-5) Mid-division, pushed along after 6th, soon weakened, pulled up, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (1) hvy in Nov.
Constantine Bay 11-2 (10-12) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, challenged last, led last 100 yards, all out, won at Haydock 2m 3f (3) hvy in Nov beating Brio Conti (10-12) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Prime Venture (IRE) 8-11fav (11-5) Tracked leading pair, close 2nd 2 out, chance until approaching last, driven and one pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Daklondike (10-12) at Lingfield 2m (4) hvy in Nov.
Dirty Dexter 100-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 13th of 15, dist behind Red Indian (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Fearsome Fred 250-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, never dangerous, 7th of 12, 25l behind Asum (11-6) at Taunton 2m mdn (4) gd in Dec.
Lord Bryan (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, headway before 3 out, plugged on, 5th of 17, 32 1/2l behind Give Me A Copper (11-0) at Exeter 2m 7f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Pinnacle Peter (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, struggling after 7th, 11th of 15, dist behind Perfect Pirate (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f (4) gs in Dec.
Pop Rockstar (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, kept on and no impression, 4th of 13, 15 3/4l behind Robinshill (12-5) at Ffos Las 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Smoking Dixie (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Led, not fluent 1st, headed 3 out, soon edged right, weakened before next, 7th of 9, dist behind Robin Roe (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Sydney De Baune (FR) 20-1 (11-1) Held up, headway 4th, went 2nd before 3 out until 2 out, no chance with winner, weakened approaching last, 5th of 7, 28 1/2l behind The Gipper (11-13) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Mar.
