led, mistake 2nd, headed 7th, tracked leader until blundered 9th and droped to rear, weakened 13th
in touch, mistake 7th, reminders soon after, outpaced 9th, ridden and headway 3 out, kept on to go 3rd 2 out
close up, chased leader 8th, led 11th, joined next, ridden and headed 4 out, chased winner, stayed on flat
in touch in rear, headway to track leaders 9th, joined leader 12th, led 4 out, clear 2 out, in command when blundered badly last, recovered and ran on
not fluent early, tracked leader, led 7th, headed 11th, ridden next, kept on one pace from 3 out
chased leaders, ridden 11th, weakened 5 out
MASTER OF THE HALL is worth siding with on his chasing debut. A former point-to-point winner, he had the pace to win over two miles last season but this longer trip is likely to be ideal over fences this year. Pause And Clause shaped with promise at Market Rasen behind the honest Billie Magern but his next run here behind Radium was disappointing. The longer trip will suit but he needs to improve his jumping, something that isn't unrealistic with Sam Thomas on-board. Fredo ran on well at Stratford behind Tell Massini and he doesn't have too much to find on hurdles ratings, whilst Captive Audience was behind him on that run last month. County Zen is a course winner but he was behind Pause And Clause last time and along with Zhukov he looks opposable.
Captive Audience (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Took keen hold, led until 5th, prominent, hung right after 4 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 7, 18l behind Tell Massini (11-4) at Stratford 2m 7f beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
County Zen (FR) 9-1 (11-3) Raced in rear but in touch, mistake 9th, headway 12th, under pressure 4 out, soon beaten, 5th of 7, 34l behind Radium (11-3) at Ascot 2m 3f beg chs (3) gd in Oct.
Fredo (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 11th, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Tell Massini (11-4) at Stratford 2m 7f beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
Master Of The Hall (IRE) 8-13fav (11-7) Not always fluent, close up in last pair, went 3rd 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 5, 15l behind The Minack (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Pause And Clause (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, soon lost place and in touch, not fluent 7th, weakened after 4 out, 4th of 7, 22l behind Radium (11-3) at Ascot 2m 3f beg chs (3) gd in Oct.
Zhukov (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, chased winner approaching 4th, blundered 10th, no impression from 3 out, jumped left 2 out, 2nd of 4, 23l behind Tullamore Dew (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) hvy.
