held up mid-division, headway 4th, ridden along in 3rd place 2 out, no extra from next
behind, headway 4th to be in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
led after 1st, soon clear, ridden and weakened quickly before 4 out
held up, effort approaching 4th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
never in contention, behind when pulled up before 4 out
always in rear
held up behind clear leaders, headway on bit 4 out, led 3 out, soon clear, jumped left last, weakening when eased towards finish
held up behind clear leaders, headway 4th, chased winner from 3 out, kept on flat
held up, headway 5th, hampered 3 out, kept on from 2 out without being dangerous
Lutea has some decent bumper form to his name and is taken to make a winning start to his hurdling career at the main expense of fellow hurdling debutants Man Ray and Prato. The last mentioned, a winner on the level in Germany, represents the stable of Christian Von Der Recke so has to be respected, while Man Ray - who won on the flat in France - makes his first start since joining the yard of Jonjo O'Neill. Both are interesting but Lutea looks a safer option. Martin Pipe's gelding, a dual bumper winner, has been found out in better company in his last two starts but still looks a decent recruit and it will take a good one to beat him. The Venetia Williams-trained Fantastic Arts looked useful at times last season but has failed to progress this term and it may be interesting that he has been given a break since his latest start. He makes more appeal than Harry Potter, who has shown ability but faces a stiff task today. The vote though goes to Lutea, who is sure to have been well schooled for his debut over timber and is taken to make a winning start to his new career.
Fantastic Arts (FR) 9-1 Tracked leader, chased winner before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 10, 21l behind Lustral Du Seuil at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Dec.
Harry Potter (GER) 10-1 Held up in rear, hampered 3 out, never nearer, 5th of 12, 35l behind Simple Glory at Chepstow 3m nov hdl (E) gd.
Huw The News 25-1 Chased leaders, ridden after 6th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 8, 25l behind Tizi Ouzou at Taunton 2m 1f sll hdl (G) gf.
Kingtobee (IRE) 66-1 Always behind, mistakes 2nd and 3rd, soon tailed off, 7th of 12, well behind Yes Sir at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (E) sft in Feb.
Prato (GER) 4th of 8, 27l behind Inari at Dortmund 1m 4f gd in Feb (Flat).
Baranook (IRE) 2-1 Led over 7f, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 26l behind Newtonian at Southwell 1m 4f mdn stk (D3) fbs in Feb (Flat).
Man Ray (USA) behind Levitski at Le Croise-Laroch 1m 2f stk in Nov, 14 ran (Flat).
Lutea (IRE) 16-1 Led until over 6f out, weakened over 3f out, 7th of 17, 31l behind Karanja at Newbury 2m nhf Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
