led and raced wide to 4th, with leader when lost action 5th, pulled up quickly
prominent, led going well 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra flat
held up in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, went prominent 6th, ridden and every chance 4 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, headway after 7th, ridden 3 out, led last, driven out
held up, headway approaching 4 out, 2nd and every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, headway after 8th, stayed on to go 4th run in
with leader, led 4th till headed 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on well flat
held up in touch, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out
behind when blundered and unseated rider 6th
Course and distance winner Jeannot de Beauchene gets the nod in this competitive handicap. The five-year-old scored twice last season, and has made an encouraging return to form in this campaign, finishing second on starts at Haydock and Cheltenham. He'll appreciate the mud, he works well with Andrew Thornton; the only worry is the first-time blinkers. A major prospect in this race would be Comex Flyer; he won twice over fences in October before disappointing last time out at Taunton. This is a true confidence booster, but the soft ground is a disadvantage. Beethoven is Noel Chance's representative in the race. This lightly-raced six-year-old goes well fresh and showed his enthusiasm for hurdles when winning a tough event at Ascot, over this trip, last December. Look out for bags of improvement from him. Jonjo O'Neill's Giocomo can never be ruled out. Still only four-years-old, he developed into a solid hurdler last season, winning the Chatteris Fen at Huntingdon then the Adonis Juvenile at Kempton before his luck came unstuck at Cheltenham. He has slipped slightly down the ratings after failing to get into the places in his first two runs this season, but he is race fit and fully capable of taking an event like this - but the ground is a concern. Chicago Bulls has been working well for Alan King and is proven over the distance and soft going. He has the visor applied to sharpen up his concentration, and has strong placing claims.
