disputed lead, settled behind leader 2nd, restrained to midfield 5th, lost ground quickly before 2 out, soon tailed off
in rear, jumped left throughout, ridden and detached 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, pushed along 4th, lost touch 4 out, ridden before 3 out, tailed off before 2 out
towards rear, not fluent 7th, rapid headway and ridden before 2 out, one pace from before last
disputed lead, led after 1st, awkward 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened before last
midfield, shuffled back towards rear 6th, hard ridden after 3 out, lost touch well before 2 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
towards rear of midfield, headway 5th, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, kept on without troubling leaders from last
prominent, smooth headway to press leader 2out, pushed into lead before last, ridden out flat
held up in touch, headway to press leader before 4 out, led travelling strongly before 2 out, headed before last, kept on flat
towards rear, headway into midfield 6th, not fluent 7th and 8th, ridden after 3 out, lost touch before 2 out, tailed off before last
midfield, not fluent 3rd, headway to chase leader 5th, in touch travelling strongly 3 out, ridden and outpaced 2 out, jumped left last, no extra
A tricky opener in which Etat Major Aulmes, who has been running in handicaps, will likely struggle to give the weight away. Jeremy Pass is almost certainly better than he’s shown so far but, like the consistent Electron Bleu, has been off the track for a while. Bumper winner Sizable Sam also returns from a break and makes his hurdling debut but is worth noting for future reference. PARIS DIXIE looks the obvious one as he was only caught close home by Wild Romance at Chepstow with the winner going on to finish second in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham.
Etat Major Aulmes (FR) 7-2fav (11-5) Midfield, jumped left 4th, ridden for effort after 2 out, every chance last, no extra final 100yds, 4th of 11, 4l behind Hahadi (10-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Abbey Street (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) In rear, not fluent 8th, ridden after 8th, hampered after next, headway when hampered 2 out, 2nd when not fluent last, unable to trouble winner, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Zebi Boy (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in May.
Aim For Fame 12-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, pushed along 5th, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 12, dist behind The Bull Mccabe (11-2) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Cafe Pushkin (FR) Montmartre gelding out of Chausey.
Electron Bleu (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Held up, headway before 6th, challenged 2 out, carried left last, led briefly, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 4 3/4l behind Exod'ela (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Filthy Lucca 200-1 (11-2) Always behind, tailed off, last of 13, dist behind Pasvolsky (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f (5) gd in Nov.
Iron Mike 7-1 (9-0) Raced wide held up, weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 7 1/2l behind Noble Peace (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Jeremy Pass (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up in touch on outside, effort over 4f out, pushed along and hanging left 3f out, no impression on winner, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 17 1/2l behind Getaround (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
Sizable Sam 6-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m (5) gs in Feb beating Cadzand (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 16 ran.
Travelling Max 33-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, struggling over 4f out, 11th of 12, 29 1/2l behind Will Sting (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Paris Dixie 3-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until lost place 4 out, rallied approaching 2 out, led as leader jumped slowly last, headed and not pace winner towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Wild Romance (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) gd in Oct.
