led, headed narrowly 12th, still close up 3 out where ridden, kept on from 2 out, faded close home
close up, restrained into midfield 7th, headway to press leaders 11th, led narrowly 12th, ridden after 2 out, jumped clear last, stayed on well
held up in rear, still in rear but in touch 4 out, driven and no extra 2 out
close up, lost ground 4 out and pushed along, driven before 2 out, one pace from last
held up, in rear when hit 10th, headway 3 out, ridden and weakened from 2 out
midfield, chased leaders 4 out, lost ground 3 out, stayed on from last, took 2nd close home
Sam Brown is penalised for winning a Grade 2 novice chase at Haydock while Imperial Aura is penalised 4lb for landing a Listed chase at Cheltenham and is fitted with a tongue-tie on his return. Brewin'upastorm unseated in the Arkle at Cheltenham back in March and Windsor Avenue fell when favourite for a Grade 2 contest at Haydock at the start of the year. But BLACK OP showed bags of potential over fences last year culminating in a creditable second to Slate House in the Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day and Tom George’s charge may prove the one to side with on his reappearance. Ardlethen looks up against it on these terms.
Sam Brown 2-1fav (11-5) Tracking leaders early , lost place and behind 6th, never travelled after, switched wide before 9th, weakened 15th, behind and pulled up before 4 out, at Ascot 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Imperial Aura (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 9th, led before 2 out, clear flat, idled inside final 100 yards, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar beating Galvin (11-4) by 3 1/4l, 20 ran.
Ardlethen (IRE) 18-1 (11-7) Towards rear, outpaced 3 out, never a threat, 14th of 23, 36l behind Milan Native (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Black Op (IRE) 9-4fav (11-7) Chased leader, hit 11th, left in lead 4 out, headed and mistake 2 out, driven and stayed on same pace run-in, looked held when squeezed up on rail final 100 yards, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Slate House (11-7) at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Brewin'upastorm (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, pecked slightly 6th, not fluent 7th, blundered and unseated rider 10th, at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Windsor Avenue (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, looked held when blundered and fell next, at Haydock 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
