held up and keen, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
close up, hit 4th, led 5th, blundered 2 out, soon headed, stayed on towards finish
led to 5th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, never dangerous, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, led after 2 out, driven out
in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, behind approaching 4 out
chased leaders, chased leader from 5th until weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, headway 4 out, hit next, soon weakened
There must be a doubt concerning the participation of Thundering Star following his defeat at Taunton on Thursday so it may pay to side with ENFANT DE LUNE, who gets the vote ahead of Quintus. Chris Bealby's gelding, a winner over hurdles in his native country of France, was well held on his British debut and may again struggle under a penalty but he does at least have winning form over timber. Malcolm Jefferson's Kingsben was good value for his bumper success at Catterick last term and has shown gradual improvement over hurdles this term so he has to be considered with the yard's runners in good form. Ben de Haan's Ascot bumper winner Uffa Fox has not progressed over hurdles as much as may have been anticipated but this looks a weaker contest than the one he ran in at Huntingdon last time so he has to be worthy of consideration. The vote though goes to Enfant de Lune who showed fair form on the level in France, made a pleasing debut over hurdles for Alan King at Warwick last month and he is taken to open his account over timber.
Quintus (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, led soon after 1st, not fluent next, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, well behind Helpston (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Thundering Star (SAF) 8-15fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4th, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, headed approaching last, not pace with winner, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Clova Island (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (3) sft.
Ashover Rock (IRE) 150-1 (10-11) Always behind, under pressure 7th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Friendly King (11-0) at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft, 10 ran.
Catai Mark of Esteem colt out of China, half brother to Cutter and Piquante.
Enfant De Lune (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Prominent, challenged from 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, 7 lengths down and beaten when blundered badly last, weakened and lost 2 places soon after, 5th of 18, 20l behind Frontier Dancer (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Harry The Hawk 7-1 (9-9) Always towards rear, never a factor, last of 13, 15l behind Blazing Bailey (9-8) at Newbury 1m 4f ldy rds hcp (5) sft in Oct (Flat).
Kingsben 28-1 (10-2) Steady start, held up in rear, 6th when mistake 2 out, driven and kept on approaching last, never near leaders, 4th of 12, 17l behind The Panama Kid (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Naledi 100-1 (8-1) Slowly into stride, chased leaders after 2f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 13, 23l behind Granary (8-11) at Leicester 7f hcap (5) hvy in Sept (Flat).
New Beginning (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Ridden and headway over 1f out, soon one pace, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Vine Street (8-13) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol (Flat).
Optimus (USA) 40-1 (10-9) In touch, hit 6th, effort after 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 9, 26l behind Leo's Lucky Star (11-8) at Ascot 2m nov hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Smart Alex (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) In touch, pulled hard, weakened 3 out, 11th of 16, 40l behind Norman The Great (10-12) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Uffa Fox (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 4th, never on terms, 7th of 11, 29l behind Shoreacres (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nh mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
