prominent, ridden 4 out, clear 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
chased leader, hit 4 out, led on bit approaching 3 out easily
held up and keen in rear, some headway 4 out, weakened 3 out
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened next
in rear and not jump well, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
ridden along 5th, behind from 6th, tailed off
chased leaders till ridden and weakened approached 4 out
behind from 6, tailed off
behind from 6, tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
This is much easier than the Grade 1 Aintree race contested by Il Duce last time and Alan King's charge looks capable of taking it, with Prato, Nycteos and Bengo others for the short list. Il Duce has plenty in his favour and looks a progressive sort, putting up his best effort to date when battling well to dead heat at Newton Abbot over a similar trip on his penultimate start. King decided after that win that he wasn't ready for Cheltenham, and he never got into it at Aintree so that run is best forgotten. The five-year-old looks a decent sort and we will side with him. Christian Von Der Recke saddles Prato, who won a soft ground maiden hurdle here by an easy three lengths last time, and who clearly merits plenty of respect, while Tony McCoy gets the leg up on Nycteos, who also handled cut well when scoring here last time. The four-year-old receives the weight-for-age allowance and could go very well. One other to consider is Bengo, who couldn't cope with a penalty last time, but may be capable of making the frame.
Bengo (IRE) 6-1 In touch, headway approaching 9th, led 3 out, ridden when headed and not fluent 2 out, stayed on, 4th of 17, 9l behind Halcon Genelardais at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gs in Mar.
Il Duce (IRE) 66-1 Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 9th, weakened after 4 out, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Asian Maze at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gd, 17 ran.
Prato (GER) 9-2 Held up behind clear leaders, headway on bit 4 out, led 3 out, soon clear, jumped left last, weakening when eased towards finish, won at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (E) sft in Mar beating Baranook by 3l, 12 ran.
Nycteos (FR) 8-1 Led after 1st, headed 3 out, ridden and led again approaching last, not fluent, ran on flat, won at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (E) sft in Mar beating Lord Killeshanra by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Humming 7-1 In touch, ridden 6th to chase leader, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 11, 23l behind Fabrezan at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gd in Jul '03.
Real Definition 14-1 Held up, hit 4th and 5th, headway to chase leaders 7th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 9, well behind Sunset Light at Warwick 3m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Mar.
The Cad (IRE) 66-1 Chased winner until ridden 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 14, 28l behind Nycteos at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (E) sft in Mar.
Sir Pandy (IRE) 20-1 Raced wide in rear, no impression final 3f, 9th of 13, 14l behind Glasker Mill at Kempton 2m nhf (H) sft in Feb.
