held up, awkward 2nd, pushed along before 3 out, no chance behind leaders last, kept on well flat
led, untidy 2nd and 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened thereafter
chased leader, ridden to lead 2 out, soon headed and a length down at last, kept on same pace run in
in rear, mistake 6th, headway on outside home turn, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, never in contention
mid division, headway just behind leaders 3 out, took it up travelling well last, ran on well flat, readily
mid division, pushed along home turn, weakened from 2 out
Chti Balko is best watched on a first run since May and wind surgery unless the market suggests otherwise. Benny's Bridge, likely to need the run, has been off 337 days and has a first start for this stable. Caius Marcius, down to his lowest handicap mark since 2018, is a course and distance winner and his amateur pilot claims his full 10lb. He should be involved off this mark. Saint Arvans and Champagne City were one-two here recently and there's little between them at revised weights, so the choice is FIRST IMPRESSION, lightly-raced in his juvenile hurdle season and ready to go after running a good Redcar second recently behind a Godolphin winner.
Chti Balko (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Led, hit 2nd and 2 out, headed and weakened quickly between last 2, 6th of 7, 23 3/4l behind Vision Du Puy (10-13) at Haydock 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Champagne City 14-1 (11-7) Led, two lengths clear 3 out, ridden before 2 out, headed last, kept on run in, no match for winner, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Saint Arvans (10-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Caius Marcius (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced soon after 3 out, rallied flat, 4th of 7, 20 1/2l behind Martello Sky (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Benny's Bridge (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, weakened after 2 out, tailed off, 15th of 16, dist behind Breffniboy (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
First Impression (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3f out, soon pushed along, ridden well over 1f out, kept on but no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Dubai Souq (8-12) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Saint Arvans (FR) 4-1 (10-9) Mid-division, smooth headway 3 out, ridden and switched left 2 out, joined leader last, edged clear run in, won going away, won at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Champagne City (11-7) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
