not fluent and soon held up in rear, jumped slowly 10th, struggling 12th, never on terms, tailed off
led until 3rd, chased leader, led 8th until 10th, chased leading pair, pushed along and looked held after 3 out, rallied to lead again approaching last, stayed on well and ridden clear flat
jumped left, tracked leaders, pushed along and struggling 12th, hung left and kept on again flat
mistake 1st, headway to lead 3rd, went left and headed 8th, led again after 10th until approaching 2 out, 3rd and one pace before the last
tracked leader until hit 1st, tracked leaders, went 2nd again 8th, led briefly 10th, pushed along to lead approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, one pace flat
The market should tell us what's expected from chasing debutants Clondaw Draft and Village Vic following lengthy lay-offs. Traffic Fluide won in France and should improve on his fourth behind Ptit Zig here last month but this probably rests between VIVACCIO and Kings Lad. There looks to be very little between the pair on the form book and the latter won very easily at Fontwell on his second start over the larger obstacles but the former faced a stiff task at the weights when unseating his rider in a better race at Haydock last time and can bounce back.
Vivaccio (FR) 3-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, hard ridden 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Boondooma (10-12) at Haydock 2m nov chs (2) hvy in Dec, 5 ran.
Kings Lad (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Jumped well, made all, never in any danger, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov beating Champagne N Caviar (10-2) by 14l, 6 ran.
Clondaw Draft (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Led, not fluent 4th, dived at 3 out, ridden, edged left and headed before last, no extra flat, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Saint Roque (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Oct '13.
Village Vic (IRE) 4-11fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 7th, hard pressed from 2 out, ridden and edged right approaching last, edged right towards finish, driven out, won at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Sep '13 beating Hurakan (11-0) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Traffic Fluide (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Chased leading trio, jumped slowly 4 out, soon outpaced and no chance after, 4th of 5, 32l behind Ptit Zig (11-4) at Ascot 2m 3f nov chs Grade 2 (1) sft in Dec.
