led, ridden, headed after 3 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders, weakened 4 out
held up in touch, joined leader on bit 3 out, soon led, headed after next, weakening when not fluent last
held up, slow 5th, soon outpaced, headway, travelling well after 3 out, led after next, ridden clear
held up in rear, headway 4 out, effort next, never able to challenge
mid-division, lost place before 3 out
held up in touch, driven to challenge 3 out, hit next, soon weakened
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, weakened next
behind, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on well flat, not reached winner
Stellino is preferred to I'msingingtheblues and Numide. This is a step up in class but Nicky Henderson's charge was very impressive at Taunton and looks capable of taking high order over hurdles. The second, Talenti, is a reasonable yardstick and he beat him well enough to put his name in the Cheltenham picture. I'msingingtheblues has already shown a smart level of form but is penalised accordingly and already looks in need of further. He may get away with it on this track if he gets a strong pace but there's no guarantee of that and the speedier types should prevail. Numide has impressed in everything that he's done so far, he was smart on the Flat and has won both starts readily on soft ground. This target is a natural progression and he should be a threat to all if proving as effective on this quicker ground. An interesting contest that should have a bearing on the spring Festivals; we'll take Stellino to make his mark on this stage.
Alsadaa (USA) 8-1 (11-7) Led, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 29l behind Breedsbreeze (11-7) at Sandown 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Jan.
Golden Alchemist 40-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 6th, slightly outpaced after 3 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Deep Purple (11-7) at Ascot 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gf in Dec.
I'msingingtheblues (IRE) 2-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden and every chance after 2 out, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Calgary Bay (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Dec.
Pigeon Island 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden and close 4th 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 24, 7l behind Wingman (10-0) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs.
Numide (FR) 1-5fav (11-11) Held up, steady headway from 3 out, led on bit approaching last, easily, won at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Six Day War (10-4) by 4l, 16 ran.
Stellino (GER) 5-6fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, very easily, won at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft beating Talenti (11-3) by 15l, 14 ran.
Donaldson (GER) 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, blundered badly 3rd, hampered 2 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 15, 23l behind Sentry Duty (11-3) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gd.
Quartano (GER) 9-2 (11-3) Led after 1st, ridden and hung right when headed approaching last, no extra, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Super Formen (10-7) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) hvy.
Grand Schlem (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, not fluent 4th, stayed on, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Ashkazar (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) sft.
