held up in 4th place, left tracked leading pair 2nd, outpaced when hit 7th, jumped left and struggling after, weakened
led until blundered badly and unseated rider 2nd
tracked leader, left in lead 2nd, pushed along when headed 3 out, no chance with very easy winner
jumped well, tracked leading pair, left in close 2nd and slightly hampered 2nd, closed 7th, led going well 3 out, soon clear, very easily
STERNRUBIN is the best of these over hurdles and won a Listed race over timber here at this time last year. Philip Hobbs’ charge made a good start over fences when runner-up at Exeter to the high-class Yanworth and that looks stronger form than Sizing Tennessee’s second to Black Corton over fences at Newton Abbot. A decent hurdler, Dolos is related to winning chasers in France and has his first start over the larger obstacles but Dalkadam looks up against it on these terms.
Dalkadam (FR) 11-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division, ridden and lost place 6th, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Yasir (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Sizing Tennessee (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led, mistake 9th, headed 15th, pressed winner, took narrow advantage going well when fell 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct.
Sternrubin (GER) 3-1 (11-2) Led, jumped right throughout, strongly challenged from 2 out, headed after last, kept on, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Yanworth (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f (3) gs in Oct.
Dolos (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, driven after 3 out, lost place after next, weakened flat, 10th of 14, 18 3/4l behind Elgin (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
