held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged 2 out, led flat, stayed on well
chased leader until 2nd, went 2nd again 5th until before 3 out, weakened before next
chased leaders on outside, held from 3 out, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out or last, headed flat, held close home
led until 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders on inside, raced keenly, went 2nd from 2nd, mistake next, weakened before 3 out
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, every chance after 2 out, 3rd and held last, no extra flat
TULIN is an unexposed improver and there was no disgrace in being beaten by Balko Saint last time. He should prove competitive on this first run in a handicap. Petrastar is the other unexposed contender and needs a market check on this first start for three days shy of a year. Fanfan Du Seuil finally came back to some form last time when runner-up at Huntingdon but it's hard to be sure he'll continue in that vein and Mack The Man and confirmed front runner, River Bray, make more appeal. There's little between them though on their Wincanton running last term with the former just preferred. Nordic Combined is not completely ruled out either at his best.
Mack The Man (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Chased leaders in 4th, headway into 2nd going well before 2 out until after 2 out, plugged on in 3rd, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Langer Dan (10-10) at Sandown 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
River Bray (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Cajoled away from start, prominent 2nd, ridden 5th, weakened after 4 out, mistake 2 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Dobryn (11-5) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Nordic Combined (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Chased leaders on outside, lost place before 5th, effort 3 out, no impression when mistake last, last of 12, 16 1/4l behind Samba Dancer (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Tulin 10-3 (10-13) Tracked clear leader, closed 5th, led over 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 3 1/4l behind Balko Saint (11-4) at Kempton 2m lst (1) gd in Oct.
The Russian Doyen (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) In rear, not fluent 9th, headway 12th, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 6, 30 3/4l behind Eritage (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Petrastar 25-1 (11-0) Jumped right, behind, slow 1st and 2nd, struggling from 5th, looked awkward next, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Does He Know (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov.
Fanfan Du Seuil (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, hit 5th, pushed along 3 out, headway after 2 out, left 2nd last, not trouble winner, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Peltwell (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
