swerved left as tapes rose, tracked leading pair on outside, tracked leader 3rd, led 2 out, 2 lengths ahead and went left last, soon joined, headed and no extra final 100 yards
bit keen, tracked leader, led 3rd, hit 5th, hit 2 out and headed, chased leader, ridden and every chance early run-in, weakened in 3rd final 110 yards
hampered start, led until jumped slowly and headed 3rd, dropped to 4th place 4 out, looked beaten next, rallied and hit 2 out, 3rd between last 2, plenty to do last, stayed on strongly to lead last 100 yards
held up, last, ridden in modest 4th after 3 out, dropped to last and mistake 2 out, plugged on
tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd 4 out, hit 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, ridden and weakened between last 2
Quel Destin won a Listed event over a shorter trip at Sandown in testing ground last time. But he seemed not to last home over 2m4f in the Relkeel at Cheltenham before that when WILLIAM HENRY (NAP) finished a decent third. The latter has subsequently struggled over 3m in the Cleeve Hurdle but will be better suited by today’s trip and Nicky Henderson’s charge gets the vote. Thomas Darby edges this at the weights having won a Grade 3 handicap at Ascot last month but meets tougher opposition today and Monsieur Lecoq is another facing a more difficult task than when runner-up at Ascot in December. Chesterfield reverts to hurdling but has it all to do on these terms.
Quel Destin (FR) 6-1 (11-3) Tracked clear leader, closer at 3rd, led approaching 2 out, 1 length ahead last, stayed on well run-in, won at Sandown 2m lst (1) hvy in Feb beating Call Me Lord (11-6) by 3l, 5 ran.
Thomas Darby (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, went 2nd 6th, led after 2 out, driven out, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) hvy in Jan beating Song For Someone (11-10) by 1l, 8 ran.
William Henry (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, niggled along after 3 out, bumped 2 out, no impression, well beaten last, last of 8, 12 1/2l behind Paisley Park (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Chesterfield (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Tracked leader, mistake 3rd, lost place 5th, rallied 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 36l behind Marracudja (11-1) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Monsieur Lecoq (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inner, ridden at 5th, moderate 6th 2 out, no impression, 7th of 9, 21 3/4l behind Honeysuckle (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
