mid-division, not fluent 3rd, pushed along 3 out, weakened 2 out
2 in rear, ridden after 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
led, joined after 4th, headed 4 out, led again after 3 out, pushed along and headed 2 out, ridden before last, kept on one pace
in rear, lost touch after 6th, soon pulled up
chased leaders, pushed along in 3rd before 2 out, pressed leader before last, led final flight, ridden and stayed on well run-in, won going away
in rear, reminders after 3rd, soon lost touch and pulled up after 4th
handy, disputed lead, after 4th, led 4 out, headed after 3 out, ridden home turn and weakened tamely, tailed off
mid-division, ridden before 4 out, never on terms
9 tracked leaders, pressed leaders after 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, jumped left and headed last, no extra run-in
No 10 towards rear, ridden 3 out, stayed on one pace from 2 out, never a threat
Dreaming Blue won on the all-weather in 2020 but didn’t show much on his hurdling debut later that year. Baby Ben appeared to be struggling when falling at Market Rasen so this looks a good opportunity for ARISTOCRATE to make a winning start over timber. He was a useful stayer on the Flat in France and his trainer has done well with similar types. Ballycamus has won a point and finished fourth in a bumper so can chase him home.
Aristocrate (FR) (9-2) 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Afterglow (8-12) at Saint-Cloud 1m 7f lst stks hvy in Nov.
Baby Ben (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway when hit and fell 2 out, at Market Rasen 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Ballycamus (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 13, 10 3/4l behind Ballyglass (11-6) at Southwell 2m mdn (5) gs in Jan.
Demothi (IRE) (12-2) Trkd ldr, 2l 2nd from 5th, disp aftr 6out, wo well bef 3out, chall bef last, hdd early flat & drpd to 3rd cl hm, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Blue Motion (12-2) at Dromahane 3m mdn Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Dreaming Blue 10-1 (9-8) Raced keenly tracking leader, led 12f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Phoenix Aquilus (9-11) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Joey's Gift 300-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd briefly before 4th, not fluent and lost place 5th, soon behind, 6th of 9, dist behind Frere D'armes (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Kicksaftersix (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, some headway out wide when mistake and lost place 6th, pushed along and struggling in last pair before 3 out, tailed off when bad mistake 3 out and pulled up, at Doncaster 2m 3f (3) gs in Dec.
Takoda (IRE) 100-1 (11-8) Towards rear, fell 5th, at Taunton 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Jan.
Watergrange Jack (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Chased leader 1st, not fluent 6th, blundered badly 3 out, rider lost iron briefly and not recover, tailed off, 8th of 16, dist behind Wonderwall (11-8) at Doncaster 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Jan.
My Ticketyboo (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Always well behind, tailed off, 6th of 11, dist behind Hayedo (11-0) at Hereford 2m mdn (4) gs in Jan.
