pressed leader, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, easily
jumped left at times, led, in tight at 3rd and 11th, not fluent 15th, headed next, no chance with winner before 2 out
chased leaders on outside, slow 13th, soon struggling, weakened 15th
held up in touch, fell 2nd
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, 3rd from 4th, outpaced 15th, weakened next
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
This is a potentially informative contest featuring several promising types. VALUE AT RISK (NAP), a very smart staying hurdler last season, was strongly supported to make a winning start over fences in a Grade 2 at Newbury in November but fell at the second. He's been given plenty of time to recover and can make amends here before going on to better things. Closing Ceremony looks a chasing type and had a Grade 2 success to his name over timber last season. He is worth noting and makes more appeal than the likes of Carningli and Irish import Drumacoo on this occasion. Fletchers Flyer ran well for third at Cheltenham and was second earlier at Exeter so can't be ignored.
Drumacoo (IRE) 6-5fav (11-10) Chased leaders early, 4th from 3rd, 3rd halfway, progress into 2nd 3 out, challenged 2 out and soon led, ridden before last, kept on well (poor visibility), won at Thurles 2m 6f sft in Nov beating Couleur France (11-10) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Fletchers Flyer (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Led, not fluent 10th, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 6, 8 1/2l behind Blaklion (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (2) sft in Dec.
Ocean Venture (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Held up in last pair, struggling 3 out, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Dan Emmett (11-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Value At Risk 2-1 (11-2) Tracking leaders on outside when fell 2nd, at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gs in Nov.
Bonnet's Vino 3-1jfav (11-5) Mid-division, tracked leaders 5th, went 2nd before 4 out, led after next, ridden between last 2, joined when not fluent last, soon headed, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Shaky Gift (11-9) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Carningli (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on outside, hung left and lost place before 4 out, 14th of 17, dist behind Court Minstrel (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Closing Ceremony (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, headed before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 16, 27l behind Baradari (11-2) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
