mistake 1st, soon lost place and in rear, tailed off from 6th
held up in 4th, headway to track leader before 6th, close to lead last, driven out
unseated rider 1st
chased leader, led 4th to next, weakened quickly and pulled up before 2 out
led to 4th, weakened rapidly, tailed off when pulled up before 6th
held up in 3rd, hit 3rd, closed lead 5th, pushed clear 2 out, ridden and headed last, no extra flat
behind, stayed on between last 2, never dangerous
jumped left 1st, held up, mistake 4th, chased leading trio from 2 out, no impression and weakened between last 2
mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, no impression and weakened well before last
mid-division, mistake and reminder 4th, driven and weakened soon after 2 out
always behind, tailed off 6th
towards rear, ridden and weakened before 2 out
Shamayoun may be a class above these in time and can make a winning start at the expense of Slew Charm, with Dear Villez and Dusty Dane best of the rest. Bred by the Aga Khan, Shamayoun was successful on two of his three starts in France, and in fact was only denied by a nose on the one occasion that he did meet with defeat. The son of Kahyasi showed a liking for soft ground on the Flat, and as he hails from an in-form stable and is sure to have been well schooled, a winning debut is on the cards, with Tony McCoy in the saddle. Slew Charm pleased Noel Chance on his Plumpton introduction, finishing ahead of some more fancied rivals when second to Pace Shot, and is another ex-French individual. He should not be hard to place, but was not as good as the selection on the level and is opposed today. Dear Villez gives the race an even stronger Gallic feel, having finished fifth in a Listed hurdle at Auteuil before joining Paul Nicholls. He is another to note along Dusty Dane, although he needs to brush up his jumping in this company. Shamayoun looks the part, let us hope that he delivers.
Brave Hiawatha (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, left in lead 4th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened quickly, 8th of 24, 47l behind Detroit City (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs.
Dear Villez (FR) (9-11) close up, faded 2 out, 5th of 8, 10l behind Restless D'artaix (9-13) at Auteuil 2m 1f hdl sft in May.
Dusty Dane (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Prominent, blundered 3 out, ridden, one pace after, 5th of 14, 26l behind Twist Magic (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Dec.
Ghabesh (USA) 66-1 (10-7) Prominent, hit 3rd, weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Cloudy Lane (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft, 10 ran.
Shamayoun (FR) (9-4) Prominent, led over 2f out, kept on well, won at Saint-Cloud 1m 6f stk in Oct beating Nito Rolle (9-4) by 1l, 10 ran (Flat).
Slew Charm (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, held up, headway to track leading pair 3 out, chased winner last, kept on flat, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Pace Shot (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft.
Willy The Slip 16-1 (10-5) In touch, headway 6th, chased leading pair when blundered and weakened 3 out, 7th of 11, 31l behind Pace Shot (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft.
Zolash (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out, 9th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Ragasah (8-11) at Lingfield 7f banded stk (7) pol in Dec (Flat).
