led, not fluent 3rd or 3 out, ridden and headed when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
close up in 3rd until went 2nd from 5th, led and pecked 2 out, ridden last, headed flat, kept on, held towards finish
held up in 4th, closed approaching 2 out, ridden and unable to quicken when short of room and switched left before last, stayed on same pace, no extra towards finish
tracked leader until 5th, stayed handy, pecked 2 out, ridden approaching last, challenged at hurdle, led flat, held on gamely
took keen hold, held up in rear, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, close up behind front pair when not much room and not fluent last, unable to quicken and held after, stayed on towards finish
Kentucky Hyden had four attempts to get off the mark in France but finally came good at Sandown on his first start for Nicky Henderson. This looks a lot tougher, however, with VICENZO MIO preferred. Paul Nicholls has won two of the last four renewals with French imports and his recent acquisition showed a good level of form when reversing earlier running with Art Mauresque at Auteuil in September. Cadoudoff, Akdam and Ballyglasheen may have already had their limitations exposed while Tiger Roll only won a small race at Market Rasen but newcomer Commissioned could be interesting. He was a progressive and lightly-raced stayer on the Flat for Mark Johnston and his new stable is going well.
Cadoudoff (FR) 4-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon went 3rd, kept on to chase winner run-in, no impression, 2nd of 7, 14l behind Royal Irish Hussar (11-6) at Wetherby 2m Listed hdl 3yo (1) gs in Nov.
Kentucky Hyden (IRE) 1-3fav (10-12) Held up in 4th, not fluent 4th, headway after 3 out, led before next, soon clear, very easily, won at Sandown 2m 3yo hdl (3) hvy in Nov beating Dude Alert (10-12) by 33l, 5 ran.
Vicenzo Mio (FR) (10-3) won at Auteuil(FR) 2m 2f hdl sft in Sep beating Art Mauresque (10-3) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Ballyglasheen (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inside, reminder before 6th, outpaced by leading pair before 3 out, stayed on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Saint Jerome (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Burgoyne (USA) (8-9) won at Mons (ghlin)(FR) 1m 3f stk in Nov beating Karnitz (8-6) by 6l, 12 ran (flat).
Commissioned (IRE) 6-5fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along and headway to challenge leader approaching final furlong, ridden inside final furlong, led final strides, won at Musselburgh 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Oct beating Deficit (8-8) by ns, 5 ran (flat).
Akdam (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) In touch on outside, pushed along after 3rd, lost place and behind next, struggling 4 out, soon ridden, plugged on to take moderate 4th towards finish, no chance with leaders, 4th of 7, 24l behind Royal Irish Hussar (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov.
Tiger Roll (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, ridden out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Nonotnow (10-12) by 4l, 5 ran.
