tracked leaders, led 4th, soon headed, led again after 3 out, headed 2 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on same pace
took keen hold, led, clear until 3rd, headed before next, soon weakened, tailed off before 5th, soon pulled up
in rear, several slow jumps, behind 4th, soon pulled up
chased leader, not fluent 1st, hit next, led before 4th, soon headed, weakened before 5th, pulled up after
chased leaders, ridden and one pace when jumped right and not fluent 2 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, headway before 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, led and mistake next, clear flat, easily
chased leaders, not much room 2nd, lost place after 3rd, behind 5th, pulled up after
chased leaders on outside, weakened before 5th
held up towards rear, headway on outside before 3rd, led after next, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
Pillard was making his debut for Jonjo O'Neill when only head at then last at Sandown last month. He still holds an entry for the Triumph Hurdle so should make a bold bid to defy his penalty in a race like this, though the concession of a stone to the filly FORGIVING GLANCE may just prove beyond him. The latter was last seen in the Grade 1 Finale Hurdle at Chepstow and was earlier second in a Listed race at Aintree so should find this easier. Three Colours Red has looked a stayer in the making here and at Market Rasen but is no forlorn hope at the weights.
Pillard (FR) 6-5 (11-8) Led, not fluent 2 out, ridden and headed before last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Sneaking Budge (10-12) at Sandown 2m (3) hvy in Jan.
Darkening Night 20-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, led and clear with one other when fell 2nd, at Ffos Las 2m mdn (4) hvy in Dec.
Rebel Yell 25-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 14, 15 1/2l behind Revision (9-0) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (6) gd in Aug.
Sanok (POL) Jape gelding out of Sun Queen.
Three Colours Red (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Led, soon pressed, headed after 3rd, led again next, hit 3 out, headed before 2nd last, weakened, 4th of 5, 19 1/4l behind Kasakh Noir (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) hvy in Feb.
Forgiving Glance 11-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, ridden and weakened well before 3 out, 5th of 8, dist behind Adrien Du Pont (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Levelling 28-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden before last in 4th, weakened run-in, 6th of 18, 27 1/4l behind Cyrius Moriviere (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Jan.
Live Miracle (USA) 10-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened before 4th, tailed off next, pulled up after, at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Solstalla 6-1 (9-5) Soon led, ridden over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 11l behind All My Love (9-4) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
