in touch main group, close up 5th, driven to chase front pair before 4 out, no impression in 4th when fell next
in touch main group, close up 5th, disputed lead 7th, shaken up after 2 out, led last, driven out, kept on
held up towards rear, close up 5th, outpaced 4 out, ridden after next, never on terms
tracked clear leader, close up 5th, led after next, ridden before 4 out, headed when blundered 2 out, no impression with front pair after
held up in last pair, blundered 7th, headway on outside after 5 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra flat
held up in last pair, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led, clear to 5th, not fluent and rider lost iron briefly next, soon headed, driven and outpaced before 4 out, left 4th next, no danger after
held up towards rear, close up 5th, driven and outpaced before 4 out, ridden and weakened after next
Un Prophete had just the one outing after winning last year’s renewal off a 5lb lower mark in soft going when failing to complete at Catterick. Watcombe Heights won over hurdles here recently though was well beaten at Newton Abbot on his earlier chasing debut and NIGHT OF SIN is preferred. The latter beat only two rivals at Taunton on his second start over fences but couldn’t have won more easily and Nick Williams’ charge was scoring off higher marks over hurdles last year. Admiral's Secret won a couple of chases at the end of last season and returns off a 5lb higher mark but New Millennium has the more recent form when opening his account over fences at Fontwell last month and is also preferred to Dark Invader, a winner at Wincanton but upped in class today.
Un Prophete (FR) 5-2jfav (11-9) Always behind, pulled up, at Catterick 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Watcombe Heights (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, kept on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Trans Express (10-13) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Valseur Du Granval (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner before last, 3rd of 8, 12 1/2l behind What's Occurring (11-6) at Hereford 2m (4) gf in Nov.
Night Of Sin (FR) 5-6fav (11-2) Chased leader, challenged 7th, led next, clear before 3 out, easily, won at Taunton 2m (4) gf in Nov beating Diablerets (11-2) by dist, 3 ran.
Admiral's Secret 7-2 (11-4) In touch, hampered 1st, always travelling well, led approaching last, ran on well, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Apr beating Truckers Highway (11-1) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Envole Toi (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, led after 2nd, headed 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 7, 24 1/2l behind Anemoi (10-12) at Ascot 2m (3) gd in Nov.
New Millennium (IRE) 5-4fav (11-11) Made all, soon 30 lengths clear, jumped right 7th, challenged when mistake 3 out, not fluent last, hard ridden, stayed on well, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) gf in Oct beating Le Precieux (11-11) by 4l, 5 ran.
Dark Invader (FR) 11-4 (11-13) Tracked leading pair, left in 2nd place and slightly hampered 3 out, hit next, challenged last, ridden to lead run-in, kept on well, won at Wincanton 2m hcp (4) gf in Oct beating Wisecracker (10-4) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
