Verdict

Hunters Call is in the veteran stage and probably needs a bit further but he ran well enough on his reappearance at Bangor. Metier won a similar contest over course and distance back in January and looked as good as even when landing a gamble in the November Handicap on the Flat on his reappearance. He gets 3lb from the Grade 2 winner Camprond but is giving 12lb, including Angus Cheleda’s allowance, to HACKER DES PLACES, who is an improving handicapper judged on his second at Ascot. Dr T J Eckleburg will strip fitter for his second at Leicester with the Newbury third Teddy Blue also respected given his trainer won this last year with a four-year-old.

Formwatch

Camprond (FR) 13-2 (11-4) Held up last and not jump well, mistake 1st, went 3rd at 2nd, lost 3rd and hit 10th, good jump into 3rd 12th until mistake 3 out, went right and no extra next, went badly left and slowed into last, last of 4, 34l behind Sebastopol (11-9) at Newbury 2m 4f (1) gd in Nov.

Metier (IRE) 13-2 (8-13) Keen early, close up, headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, edged left and ran on, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Nov beating Teed Up (8-6) by 1 1/4l, 21 ran.

Hunters Call (IRE) 13-2 (12-0) In touch, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leader briefly next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 11 3/4l behind Nayati (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.

Hacker Des Places (FR) 8-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, shaken up and went 2nd 2 out, ridden run-in, no impression and well held by winner, 2nd of 10, 7 1/2l behind Highway One O Two (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.

Master Debonair 33-1 (10-9) Led 2nd, headed after 4 out, soon beaten, pulled up before 2 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Apr.

Teddy Blue (GER) 3-1jfav (10-11) Raced keenly tracked leader until lost 2nd and hit 3 out, plugged on same pace in 3rd, hung left after and no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 5 3/4l behind First Street (12-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.

Raya Time (FR) 22-1 (10-10) Headway to challenge 2 out, faded after last, 8th of 10, 19 3/4l behind Anca (10-10) at Compiegne 2m 2f hvy in May.

Dr T J Eckleburg (IRE) 5-2 (12-0) Not fluent 1st, held up in last pair, closer out wide before 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden and no impression between last two, hung right run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Totterdown (12-0) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.

Zambezi Fix (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, brief headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, faded before last, last of 7, 32 1/2l behind Stainsby Girl (10-11) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Nov.