made all, clear approaching 2 out, unchallenged, impressive
tracked winner, driven to challenge after 3 out, weakening when not fluent last
raced in rear, jumped slowly 1st, never dangerous
held up in rear, headway from 2 out, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd after last, no chance with winner
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened before last
held up mid-division, weakened before 3 out, eased
raced keenly tracking leaders, effort when blundered 3 out, rider lost iron, effort approaching last, never able to challenge
It will be interesting to see if there is any market support for L'eminence Grise on his racecourse debut but the finish may be fought out by two French imports DOLATULO and Balerina, with preference for the former. Paul Nicholls has done well with runners from across the Channel and the lightly raced three-year-old looks worth siding with having won his only start over timber in France in good fashion. Alan King's Balerina has yet to race over hurdles but has shown a reasonable level of form on the flat and makes more appeal than Gary Moore's Deux Etoiles, who showed little on one start in France. Bun Oir showed a fair level of ability on the flat and on his hurdling debut when trained in Ireland and has to be considered first time out for Charlie Longsdon.
Dolatulo (FR) (10-1) won at Enghien(FR) 1m 7f hdl fm in Mar beating Clegan (10-1) by 6l, 13 ran.
Bun Oir (USA) 16-1 (10-12) Rear of mid-division, 11th halfway, headway on outer approaching 2 out, led approaching last, slight mistake and headed, one pace run-in, 2nd of 17, 4 1/2l behind Accidental Outlaw (10-12) at Punchestown 2m 3yo mdn hdl gd in Oct.
Deux Etoiles (IRE) 3-1fav (9-2) 98th of 17 Plenty Pocket (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 3f stk gd in Apr (flat).
L'eminence Grise (IRE) Kahyasi gelding out of Belle Innocence.
Meglio Ancora 11-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, hanging badly left from over 2f out, some headway over 1f out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 13l behind Foxhaven (9-12) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct (flat).
Optimistic Duke (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Chased leading pair until 6th, weakened before next, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Zakeeta (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Balerina (FR) (8-11) 7th of 9, 5l behind Sandbar (8-11) at Saint-Cloud(FR) 1m 2f 3yo lst stk (1) gs in Mar (flat).
Jinksy Minx 50-1 (10-5) Mid-division, edged left bend after 3rd, outpaced 3 out, no impression from next, 5th of 12, 10l behind Joan D'Arc (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m juv hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Kitty Koo (IRE) 20-1 (8-0) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakening when hampered over 1f out, 9th of 13, 8l behind Tower (9-3) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct (flat).
