pressed leader, led briefly after 5th, reminders after 6th, lost 2nd soon after 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
took keen hold, held up in rear, modest 5th 3 out, never on terms
chased leaders, mistake and stumbled badly 6th, weakened before next, behind and eased approaching 2 out, tailed off
slight lead, headed briefly after 5th, ridden and headed before 2 out, dropped to 3rd 2 out, soon no chance with leading duo, blundered last, weakened and lost well held 3rd run-in
led in start, took keen hold, held up in touch, reminders after 5th, outpaced and lost place next, rallied from 2 out, went well held 3rd run-in
tracked leaders on outside, blundered 3 out, 2nd soon after, led before 2 out until 2 out, chased leader, hampered on near side rail between last 2 and switched left soon after, stayed on under pressure to lead final 150 yards, won going away
held up in last pair, not fluent 5th, headway approaching next, went 3rd after 3 out, led 2 out, hung right under pressure to near side rail between last 2, went right and hit running rail on run-in, headed and no extra final 150 yards
Nonrunner
Ourmanmassini has been in good form in jumpers' bumpers of late and must have a chance here off bottom weight if translating that back to hurdles. Uhlan Bute won over 2m at Plumpton on his penultimate start while Chemistry Master could threaten now that the ground has dried out a little. Hawkhill and Tuscan Gold would prefer it even faster but the interesting pair could be Vision Des Champs and INDIAN DAUDAIE. Both have been racing in France but the latter has been over here before and arrives off the back of a good win over fences at Auteuil. He could be well treated and gets the nod.
Hawkhill (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Raced freely, led, clear 2nd until 3rd, headed 5th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 7, well behind The New One (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) gd in Dec.
Vision Des Champs (FR) (11-2) in a race won by Fumseck (11-2) at Pau(FR) 2m 1f 4yo clm hdl hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Uhlan Bute (FR) 7-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd and mistake 4th, led after 3 out until weakened before 2 out,, 7th of 13, 30l behind Alder Mairi (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Chemistry Master 8-1 (10-6) Raced wide towards rear, headway on wide outside 5f out, ridden and weakened 3f out, 10th of 12, 20l behind Knightly Escapade (11-2) at Kempton 2m 2f n h flat (4) std in Feb.
Tuscan Gold 66-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden and struggling over 2f out, some lat progress, never any chance, 7th of 13, 14l behind Sgt Reckless (11-4) at Kempton 2m n h flat (3) std in Jan.
Phantom Prince (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, ridden before 3 out, well held when fell 3 out, in a race won by Forced Family Fun (10-7) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
Ourmanmassini (IRE) 7-4 (11-2) Took keen hold and held up in last pair, headway on outside over 2f out, shaken up chasing leaders over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon ridden and stayed on, headed and not pace of winner near finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Chalk It Down (11-2) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Feb.
Indian Daudaie (FR) 8-1 (10-12) won at Auteuil(FR) 2m 2f chs gd in Nov beating Uranus Le Dun (10-10) by 10l, 11 ran.
