led, ridden and joined 2 out, headed before last, faded flat
chased leader, wandered approaching 3rd, upsides 2 out, ridden to lead before last, pushed out
held up towards rear, took closer order 2 out, ridden to chase leader last, kept on flat but no chance with winner
always in rear, well beaten from 2 out
Donald McCain has his yard in blistering form but Master Malachy has been beaten 36l or more on all four starts and is best watched for now. Robbie Dazzler was beaten 36l into eighth of ten on his debut last month and should improve, but without troubling LE CHIFFRE D'OR. The Nicholls gelding backed up a promising bumper debut with a smooth Wincanton success and this looks an ideal place from which to launch his hurdling career. Arbennig shaped well on his bumper debut here last November and appears the main danger on that form, but was beaten some 33l on his hurdling bow at Worcester last month.
Arbennig (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along after 4 out, weakened before next, 6th of 10, 32 1/2l behind I Like To Move It (10-11) at Worcester 2m (4) gs in Oct.
Le Chiffre D'or (FR) 11-8fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led after 10f, extended lead when shaken up over 3f out, ran on inside final furlong, easily, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (5) gd in Apr beating Scanning (11-2) by 5 1/2l, 5 ran.
Master Malachy (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Always in rear, mistake last, 8th of 13, dist behind Harbour Lake (10-12) at Wetherby 2m (3) gs in Oct.
Robbie Dazzler 25-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, struggling over 6f out, 8th of 10, 35 1/2l behind Onethreefivenotout (11-0) at Worcester 2m (5) sft in Oct.
