towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, in 3rd and held when hit 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear and keen early, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up
held up in rear, some headway before 3 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, took keen hold, pushed along after 4 out, some headway from next, no impression
made all, took keen hold, ridden approaching last, soon under pressure, just held on close home
tracked leaders on inner and keen, chased winner after 4 out, hit 2 out, hard ridden after last, kept on towards finish, just failed
chased winner until after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
tracked leaders and keen, in 4th and held when pecked 2 out, one pace
Runner-up on his debut over hurdles at Pau last month, TIGRE D'ARON is likely to take all the beating on his first start in this country. His pedigree is stacked with useful French jumpers. Lil Ella didn't show a lot on her first start for Patrick Holmes at Catterick, while Almutaham and Bateau Bleu's form as been nothing to write home about so far so it may be one of the newcomers that emerges as the chief threat to Howard Johnson's grey. High Rolling needed fast going on the Flat to show his best but White Diamond handled give in the ground and won a Navan handicap last October. She has more scope than Micky Hammond's pair High Ransom and Kathlatino.
Almutaham (USA) 12-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, ridden after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 8, 26l behind The Starboard Bow (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Grams And Ounces 33-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 12th of 16, 43l behind Tony Star (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs.
High Rolling 7-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, virtually pulled up over 1f out, tailed off, last of 8, well behind El Dececy (9-5) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec (flat).
Petrocelli 50-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear and keen, plugged on from last, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 32l behind Pena Dorada (10-12) at Kelso 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Royal Holiday (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Held up behind, driven over 4f out, never on terms, 5th of 7, 14l behind Exopuntia (8-11) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec (flat).
Tigre D'aron (FR) (10-1) 2nd of 18, 1l behind Tonic Mellysse (10-1) at Pau(FR) 2m 1f hdl in Dec.
High Ransom 9-2 (9-5) Tracked leader, led halfway, ridden and headed inside final 3f, weakened quickly soon after, 6th of 8, 17l behind Sula Two (9-7) at Bath 2m 1f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct (flat).
Lil Ella (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, jumped slow 4th, soon lost pace, 6th of 10, 29l behind Mark Twain (11-0) at Catterick 2m 4yo mdn hdl (5) gs.
White Diamond 10-1 (9-4) Prominent, 3rd halfway, challenged under 3f out, weakened early straight, 16th of 22, 13l behind Leah Claire (9-10) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp 55-80 gf in Oct (flat).
Bateau Bleu 33-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 49l behind Mark Twain (11-0) at Catterick 2m 4yo mdn hdl (5) gs.
Kathlatino 50-1 (9-4) Pulled hard in rear, never dangerous, 9th of 11, 16l behind Tobernea (9-0) at Hamilton 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Sep (flat).
