tracked leader, hit 3 out, pushed along and lost 2nd well before 2 out, weakened quickly, left poor 3rd at the last
held up in rear, smooth headway into 4th 5th, 3rd travelling well before 2 out, upsides 2 out, led between last 2, travelling best and over 1 length lead when left clear last
led, headed before 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd, ridden and weakened before left modest 2nd and slightly hampered at the last
tracked leading pair, closed into 2nd well before 2 out, led approaching 2 out, headed between last two, over 1 length down and ridden when fell last
held up in 4th, went left and mistake 3rd, lost 4th place 5th, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, lost touch soon after, tailed off when blundered and unseated rider last
Withdrawn
NonRunner
Sceau Royal looked right back to his best when making a winning reappearance at Cheltenham but this track places more of an emphasis on speed. Rayvin Black beat Melodic Rendezvous in the Kingwell Hurdle here in February but that was on a much softer surface. It's no surprise to see Aristo Du Plessis back over hurdles after he failed to take to fences on his reappearance but he's high enough in the weights now. North Hill Harvey may find 2m on good going too sharp so ZUBAYR could be another winner for the Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden combination as the four-year-old has only disappointed once so far over timber and that was when racing with the choke out in the Triumph Hurdle.
Aristo Du Plessis (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, outpaced from 4th, mistake and behind from 6th, 5th of 8, dist behind Marracudja (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
Sceau Royal (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Held up, in rear, headway after 4 out, led going well last, quickened clear flat, impressive, won at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct beating Leoncavallo (11-6) by 11l, 6 ran.
Rayvin Black 11-1 (11-8) Led in start, led and soon clear, reduced lead 3rd, ridden and headed well before 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 4th of 5, 22 3/4l behind Hargam (11-0) at Kempton 2m lst (1) gd in Oct.
Zubayr (IRE) (10-3) 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Footpad (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 3f (1) hvy in May.
Peckhamecho (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway before 7th, every chance 4 out, beaten 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 6, 30 1/4l behind Cruchain (10-3) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Jul.
North Hill Harvey 25-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 3 out, unable to quicken from next, 4th and one pace before last, 4th of 11, 9l behind Buveur D'air (11-4) at Aintree 2m (1) gs in Apr.
Melodic Rendezvous 50-1 (11-8) In rear, reminders after 2nd, lost touch and pulled up before 7th, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
