tracked leader, led 4th, headed before next, led 9th, clear briefly after 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat, lost 2nd close home
led until hit 4th and given reminder, not fluent 6th, led before next where pecked, headed and ridden 9th, hit 10th, weakened before mistake 12th, pulled up before 3 out
held up, went 3rd at the 3rd, went 2nd 10th until 2 out, plugged on, went 2nd again close home, no impression on winner
held up, headway 9th, pushed along in 3rd when jumped left and pecked 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, clear flat, stayed on
tracked leaders, rider lost iron briefly 1st, not fluent and lost place 3rd, not fluent 6th, mistake next, behind when mistake 8th, tailed off when mistake 4 out
Hepijeu has been a revelation over hurdles lately but over longer trips and appeared to have lost his confidence over fences earlier. Ulis De Vassy won twice at Southwell at the start of the year but is still 6lb higher than the most recent of those and BEAU SANCY has more scope. Only six, he’s won both starts so far for Olly Murphy, though a further 5lb rise is a worry. Zamparelli and course specialist Little Windmill look closely matched on the form book but both are high enough in the weights now.
Zamparelli (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-11) Held up and behind, headway on inside 10th, pushed along after 4 out, hard ridden after 3 out, 3rd and beaten when hit 2 out, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Dr Robin (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Little Windmill (IRE) 5-2fav (12-1) Led, pushed along 3 out, ridden and headed narrowly 2 out, every chance until no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Cornish Warrior (11-8) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Hepijeu (FR) 9-4fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd going well after 3 out, soon poised to challenge, led next, clear when went right and not fluent last, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Midnight Aurora (10-13) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Beau Sancy (FR) 8-11fav (11-11) Keen, headway tracking leaders 4th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, hit next, ridden to challenge and hit last, ran on run-in, led near finish, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) gf in Oct beating Mr Satco (12-1) by nk, 6 ran.
Ulis De Vassy (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in last pair, headway 4 out, soon outpaced, never threatened leaders, 6th of 9, 19l behind Too Many Diamonds (12-0) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
