Midfield, mistake 6th and 10th, ridden to chase leader before 4 out, kept on without threatening
Held up, unseated rider 1st
Led, eased clear 3 out, ran on well, impressive
Midfield, mistake 6th, dropped to rear 5 out, stayed on into distant third 2 out
Held up, mistake 5th, headway to chase leader 5 out, ridden before 4 out, weakened 3 out
Broken Halo drops down in trip having placed at Chepstow on his chasing debut when Mario De Pail fell and Clemencia unseated. He’s preferred to Longshanks, who represents last year’s winning yard but was still beaten a long way when third here last time, but GUSTAVIAN gets the vote. Placed at Uttoxeter on his reappearance and chasing bow, Anthony Honeyball’s charge completed a double on heavy going over hurdles early in the year and looks up to scoring off his current mark.
Mario De Pail (FR) 9-2 (12-3) Raced in mid-division, fell fourth, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Gustavian (IRE) 7-2fav (10-11) Held up in last pair, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, going well before next, went 3rd and one pace approaching 2 out, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Come On Teddy (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Broken Halo 14-1 (11-6) Raced handy, ridden 5 out, headway 3 out, stayed on but not getting to first two, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Pats Fancy (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Clemencia (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) In rear, bad mistake and unseated rider 4th, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Longshanks (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Held up in mid-division, headway 9th, 3rd before 4 out, held and jumped left 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 8, 16l behind L'Homme Presse (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
