made all, hit 5th, not fluent and clear next, unchallened
not fluent at times, in rear, headway when hit 3 out, pulled up next
in touch, headway to chase winner 6th, weakened 3 out, pulled up next
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 7th, pulled up 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden to chase clear winner 3 out, plugged on
in rear, ridden and headway 3 out, moderate 3rd when fell 2 out
in touch, outpaced 3 out, left moderate 3rd next
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, lost place 6th, pulled up 2 out
not fluent, towards rear, over jumped and unseated rider 7th
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up next
always in rear, pulled up 2 out
BANDSMAN found only the odds-on favourite Top Tug too good at Kempton on his recent hurdling bow and can go one better for Dan Skelton in this. Rated 89 on the Flat, Hubertas looks the biggest danger though he made only a modest start over timber at Bangor recently. Blue Hussar has won twice on the Flat and makes his hurdling bow along with Dont Tell Chris, a half-brother to a winning hurdler, while better is expected from Crockett on only his second start over hurdles.
Bandsman 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, led after next, strongly challenged 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Top Tug (10-12) at Kempton 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Blue Hussar (IRE) 12-1 (9-12) Raced wide, in touch, pushed along over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 12, 24 3/4l behind Machine Learner (9-2) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Crockett 9-1 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, blundered 4 out, one pace next, weakened 2 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Lac Leman (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (5) gs in Jan.
Dont Tell Chris (FR) 4-1 (8-12) Held up mid-division, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 36 1/4l behind Hydrant (8-12) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (6) gd in Jun.
Hubertas 5-1 (10-12) Mid-division, jumped right 3rd, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened before last, 5th of 14, 24 1/4l behind Dashing Oscar (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Lickpenny Larry 100-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden and struggling over 6f out, 17th of 18, dist behind Robin Roe (11-4) at Warwick 2m (6) gd in Mar.
Manwell (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Always behind, pushed along and struggling after 6th, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind No Comment (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov.
Moccasin (FR) 125-1 (10-12) In rear, reminders after 3rd, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Sedgefield 2m 4f (4) gs in Nov.
Speronimo (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, plugged on final 2f, no threat, 4th of 11, 36l behind Capitaine (10-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f (6) gs in Apr.
The Grinder (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Led, headed over 2f out, soon hung left and weakened, last of 7, 20 1/2l behind Cruiseaweigh (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Missy Myrtle 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders to halfway, soon behind and outpaced, no danger after, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Wildehearted Woman (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f (6) gd in Mar.
