pressed leader, led 9th, drew clear after 3 out, in no danger after, unextended, very easily
chased leaders in 4th, outpaced after 4 out, weakened after next, tailed off when tired jump 2 out
held up behind, fell 1st
held up in rear, struggling 8th, went modest 4th after 3 out, no chance with leaders
led, mistake 8th, hit and headed next, outpaced in 3rd after 3 out, no chance with clear pair before next, blundered last
tracked front pair, went 2nd after 3 out, driven and one pace before next, no threat to very easy winner
The management here will be delighted to have attracted the potentially top-class KALASHNIKOV here. Amy Murphy's star, winner of the Grade 3 Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Newbury and beaten a neck by Summerville Boy in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, made a couple of minor errors on his chasing debut at Warwick but didn't have much to beat and eventually cruised home. He's one of the early favourites for the Arkle and can hardly be opposed though Envoye Special is an interesting newcomer to Paul Nicholls' yard. A winning hurdler in France, he's also finished runner-up twice over fences and gets 11lb from the selection as he's only four. Attest has managed to win four times over timber and, though he wasn't in the same class as the selection, he could prove best of the remainder.
Kalashnikov (IRE) 1-4fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, pecked 6th, headway to lead after 8th, pressed 2 out, pushed clear before last, asserted from last, comfortably, won at Warwick 2m (3) gd in Nov beating Huntsman Son (11-1) by 11l, 4 ran.
Attest 11-4fav (9-8) Tracked leaders, driven and no impression over 2f out, well beaten over 1f out, 6th of 10, 9 3/4l behind Essenaitch (9-2) at Chepstow 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Jun.
Bolister (FR) 7-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, driven after 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 8, 32 1/2l behind Our Three Sons (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Chivers (IRE) 14-1 (8-3) Led 1f, chased leaders until over 3f out, hung right 3f out, soon hampered and weakened, tailed off and eased, last of 9, dist behind Mancini (9-5) at Goodwood 2m hcp (3) gf in Jun.
Paddy's Poem 5-2fav (11-2) In touch, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Mick Maestro (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (5) gd in May.
Envoye Special (FR) (10-12) 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Sharock (11-4) at Compiegne 2m 1f hvy in Mar.
