close up on outside, led before 4 out, ridden and hard pressed from next, stayed on well under pressure flat
held up in rear, short lived effort 18th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, reminders after 12th, challenged 5 out, every chance next, soon ridden and one pace
tracked leader, lost place and reminders after 8th, soon outpaced, weakened 4 out
held up, headway 4 out, challenged 2 out, every chance last, ridden and no extra flat
led, headed 10th, outpaced 13th, weakened from 3 out
tracked leaders, joined leader 8th, led 10th, ridden and headed before 4 out, soon one pace
Nonrunner
Master Sebastian is a horse in form and must be feared after his win last month, however a 5lb rise for that hard-fought success could make life more difficult today. Therefore we will side with Matmata De Tendron who is sure to appreciate this stamina test, with Eriskay best of the rest. The selection exploited a very lenient mark of 79 when dotting up on his penultimate start at Sedgefield, and his effort last time out after a hefty 18lb rise was a gallant attempt indeed. Although he is again up in the weights, he looks a solid option in a tricky race. Eriskay is open to improvement after just four chase runs, and his second last time out reads fairly well in the context of this race. However he steps up in trip today, and on very testing ground, it could just be a bridge too far. Kidithou could go well off his light weight at a big price and should be watched in the market, however we will stick with Matmata De Tendron to defy another rise.
Master Sebastian 9-4fav (10-1) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy beating Lethem Air (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Deja Vu (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up, outpaced 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Good Citizen (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hcp chs (3) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Eriskay (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway to lead approaching 4 out, headed 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Gastornis (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Supreme Breeze (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) Always towards rear, 7th of 14, well behind Bang And Blame (10-6) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Lampion du Bost (FR) 6-1 (9-9) Mid-division, outpaced 5 out, never on terms, 6th of 10, well behind Silver Knight (11-3) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Matmata de Tendron (FR) 9-2 (9-11) Always prominent, challenged 3 out, ridden and outpaced after next, rallied flat, just held, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Ebony Light (11-2) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy.
Almire du Lia (FR) 22-1 (11-3) In touch until lost place 5th, blundered 10th and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Chabrimal Minster (11-5) at Kelso 3m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Kidithou (FR) 16-1 (10-9) Mid-division, close up 4th, upsides 3 out, 9 lenghts down in 6th when fell 2 out in race won by Oscar The Boxer (10-8) at Catterick 3m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
