led until 5th, slowed into 8th, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, challenged 2 out, every chance last, stayed on, no impression towards finish
held up towards rear, not much room 4th, mistake 7th, some headway before 12th, no impression, weakened before 3 out
in touch on outside until not fluent 6th, outpaced from 12th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, reached at 10th, closed 2 out, led last, driven and stayed on well flat
pressed leader, reached at 3rd, led 5th, ridden before 2 out, headed last, one pace flat
held up, slow 1st, not fluent 9th, well beaten 12th
jumped poorly in rear, behind from 5th, tailed off before 10th, soon pulled up
Amore Alato ran well on his reappearance over hurdles last year and could go close if taking to the larger obstacles. Sametegal won a Listed race over hurdles and was placed in Grade 2 and Grade 1 races. He hasn't run for 18 months but is unlikely to fail through lack of fitness. Saffron Wells was also a decent hurdler who is match-fit and El Namoose has won four of his six starts to date under Rules and will have had plenty of schooling. THREE MUSKETEERS won a Grade 2 hurdle at Warwick in January and was third in a Grade 1 at Aintree in April. He's still unexposed and has always been regarded as a chasing type so it will be disappointing if he can't make his presence felt in this, despite taking on decent opposition.
Amore Alato 20-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, never involved, 14th of 23, 25 1/4l behind Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
El Namoose 8-11fav (11-6) Tracked leaders in 3rd, blundered 3rd, weakened from 2 out, lost 3rd before last, last of 4, 31l behind Some Plan (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m (2) gd in Feb.
Fight Commander (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, went 3rd before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on to take 3rd place run-in, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Milord (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Saffron Wells (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, one pace and no impression, 7th of 16, 6 3/4l behind Towering (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Sametegal (FR) 25-1 (11-8) In touch on inside,headway 3 out, ridden and every chance before last, soon one pace, no impression flat, 8th of 28, 7l behind Whisper (11-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Three Musketeers (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon headway, went 4th from 2 out, went 3rd from last, kept on, 3rd of 12, 11 1/2l behind Nichols Canyon (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Venez Horace (FR) 150-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, weakened before 9th, behind when pulled up before 4 out, at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gd in Sep.
L'Es Fremantle (FR) 150-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 11, dist behind Theredballoon (10-11) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
