led, jumped right and slow 2nd, headed 7th, led 11th, headed 13th, 3rd and beaten 2 out, no extra last
chasing leaders 2nd, not fluent 4th, mistake 14th, hit 2 out, soon ridden, challenged flat, led close home
prominent, led 7th, headed 11th, led 13th, ridden before last, joined flat, headed close home
held up, hit 7th, mistake 10th, not fluent next, weakened after 3 out
ridden early and prominent, lost place 2nd, slow 6th, closed 10th, struggling from 13th, well beaten 4th 2 out
Stop The World has had further wind surgery since finishing third at Musselburgh in February and SOLDIER OF LOVE is preferred. He had just headed the eventual winner at Kempton in March when falling at the last and should take this as long as that hasn’t affected his confidence. Darry Desbois won a maiden hurdle at Hexham in October and should be even better over fences being a half-brother to winning chaser Raptor.
Stop The World (IRE) 5-2fav (11-11) Held up, kept wide, headway after 14th, 3rd and looked well held before 4 out, hanging right after, closed from 2 out and threatened briefly flat, held towards finish, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Dr Hooves (11-0) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Soldier Of Love 9-2 (11-9) Held up in touch, headway before 3 out, every chance 2 out, upsides winner last when fell, at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Monty's Award (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Chased leaders until lost place after 5th, soon pulled up, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Darry Desbois (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 7th, ridden before 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on, clear towards finish, won at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Oct beating Le Grand Fromage (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Lex Talionis (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Ran in snatches but mostly in touch on inside, lost place 12th, well beaten after 4 out, 10th of 13, 17 1/2l behind Don Lami (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
