chased leaders, effort approaching 2 out, weakened last
held up in touch, chased leaders 11th, hard driven to challenge 2 out, kept on under pressure closing stages, no chance with easy winner
tracked leader, led after 4th, headed after next, led again before 7th, headed 4 out, weakened after next
led until after 4th, remained prominent, led again after next, headed before 7th, led again 4 out, driven clear 2 out, impressive
chased leaders, driven 3 out, mistake last, no extra closing stages
chased leaders, lost place after 2nd, behind after 6th, tailed off 9th, pulled up before 4 out
pulled hard in rear, headway 3 out, hard driven next, stayed on towards finish, never able to challenge
Peppay Le Pugh has won three of his five starts for Dan Skelton but has gone up a further 5lb and is taking on better opposition today. Sternrubin only won a match at Exeter last month but that should have blown away a few cobwebs. He is the only course winner in the line-up but his best form is over the minimum NH distance. WENYERREADYFREDDIE made Lil Rockerfeller work hard for victory at Uttoxeter last month and the winner followed up at Cheltenham last week. That was a big improvement on his only previous run over fences and he should continue on an upward curve. Both Larry and Inaminna may need the run and the experience but the former’s stable did win this last year. Caid Du Lin was never travelling at Cheltenham last week while Amour de Nuit finished alone at Ludlow nine days ago and only had two rivals at Kempton in May so is yet to have his jumping technique examined.
Amour de Nuit (IRE) 11-8 (11-2) Tracked sole rival, effort 3 out, driven and upsides when left alone next, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct
Caid Du Lin (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, blundered 1st, not fluent next, hit 3rd, pulled up before 7th, at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
Sternrubin (GER) 1-5fav (11-2) Jumped right, made all from sole rival, mistake 2nd, drew clear from 6th, in no danger after, very easily, won at Exeter 2m 1f (3) gf in Oct beating Cotton Jenny (10-9) by 24l, 2 ran.
Wenyerreadyfreddie (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Led, strongly challenged approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Lil Rockerfeller (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (3) gd in Oct.
Larry 6-4 (11-8) Tracked leader, led 3 out, hit last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) sft in Apr beating Duke Of Kilcorral (11-1) by 2l, 8 ran.
Inaminna (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Behind, headway before 3 out, weakened before last, 4th of 9, 16l behind Litterale Ci (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in May.
Peppay Le Pugh (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, challenged last, driven flat, led close home, just prevailed on the nod, won at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Mercian King (11-8) by hd, 7 ran.
