left in lead 1st, clear until hit 8th, clear again next, pushed along after 3 out, ridden before next, idled in front, unchallenged, driven out
led in 2nd place 1st, slight peck 10th, ridden and held before 2 out, mistake 2 out, no chance with winner
led until stumbled and unseated rider 1st
A shocking turnout though it should be a good contest between two promising types. Britanio Bello won a maiden hurdle at Ludlow but has been beaten a distance in his three completed starts over fences. He's guaranteed some place money if jumping round but looks unlikely to trouble his two rivals. His stable companion BENATAR, a winning point-to-pointer and hurdler and fourth in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle in April, won a strong novices' handicap chase under a huge weight at Ascot earlier this month and looks a very smart prospect, the only proviso being that he wouldn't want any more rain. Keeper Hill, three times a winning hurdler including at Listed level, is another very promising novice chaser who had nothing to do to beat a sole rival on his debut over fences at Stratford but will have come on markedly for the experience.
Benatar (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Raced keenly, held up behind, tracked leaders 4 out, led between last 2, not fluent last, soon ridden and hard pressed, stayed on well and in command final 100 yards, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Space Oddity (11-8) by 3 3/4l, 8 ran.
Keeper Hill (IRE) 1-12fav (10-12) Tracked leader, challenged 2nd, led 4th, not fluent 7th (water), nudged slightly to quicken away from rival flat, easily, won at Stratford 2m 7f (4) gd in Nov beating Lined With Silver (11-4) by 3 3/4l, 2 ran.
Britanio Bello (FR) 9-4jfav (11-7) Held up in rear, jumped left and not fluent 2nd headway 7th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, dist behind Salto Chisco (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
