held up tracking leading trio, went 3rd at 13th, effort on outside approaching 2 out, disputing 2nd when not fluent 2 out, weakened before last
took keen hold, tracked leader, led just before 3 out, ridden before last, headed and not pace of winner flat
held up in close 5th, smooth headway on inside approaching 3 out, travelling well when switched right approaching 2 out, went 2nd before last, quickened to lead run-in, pushed readily clear
tracked leading pair, slow jump 11th, lost 3rd 4 out, outpaced in last when went wrong and pulled up approaching 3 out
led, joined 4 out, narrowly headed just before next, soon ridden, lost 2nd before last, outpaced in 3rd run-in
Carlito Brigante rallied close home to pip Domtaline over C&D two runs ago but was 30 lengths behind the latter's stablemate Unioniste at Aintree next time and looks to have little hope of reversing the form here. Paul Nicholls' four-year-old looks an exciting prospect but the class act is FINGAL BAY, who looked a little ring-rusty when having to work hard to beat Tiger O'Toole on his chasing debut at Chepstow. He'll have learned plenty from that and should be much more the finished article here and can come out on top. Dynaste and Thehillofuisneach will probably do better when tackling 3m.
Carlito Brigante (IRE) 6-4 (11-11) Tracked leaders in 4th, outpaced when hampered 3 out (usual 6 out), never able to challenge, weakened on long flat, 4th of 6, 30l behind Unioniste (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Fingal Bay (IRE) 8-13fav (11-4) Jumped well, made all, clear 3 out, idled flat, driven out, won at Chepstow 2m 3f nov chs (3) sft in Oct beating Tiger O'Toole (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Dynaste (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear in touch, headway after 3 out, chased leaders under pressure next, soon ridden and outpaced, well beaten before last, 8th of 11, 45l behind Big Buck's (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Thehillofuisneach (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up in touch on inside, outpaced by leading trio 14th, soon beaten, moderate 4th and last 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 10, well behind Harry Topper (11-4) at Exeter 3m beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
Unioniste (FR) 6-5fav (11-1) Tracked leading pair, left 2nd 3 out (usual 6 out), led last (usual 4 out), hard pressed approaching omitted 2 out, ridden and stayed on well final furlong, won at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct beating Distime (11-3) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
