held up mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear and keen, headway on outer approaching 6th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear on inside, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up soon after
tracked leaders, chased leading pair after 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, in rear and reminders after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
with leader on outer, led approaching 6th, ridden and headed last, rallied flat to regain lead towards finish
tracked leaders on outer, ridden and challenged 2 out, led last, hung left flat, headed towards finish
led, headed approaching 6th, in 4th from 3 out, ridden and one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up soon after
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
This decent prize has attracted a decent field but SIR DU BEARN may be able to overcome his inexperience and provide Paul Nicholls with his third winner in seven runnings of this race. It's been a long time since he was in action at Pau where he won the second division of a maiden hurdle in a similar time to the winner of the first division, Soldatino. He's expected to make his mark over fences in due course but looks capable of picking up a handicap hurdle or two first. Special Day has been given every chance by the handicapper and is worth monitoring for support whilst Via Galilei is a lightly raced contender from the yard whose stable stalwart this race is named after. It would be no surprise to see him go well whilst Oenologue impressed when last in action and may have more to offer.
Maraafeq (USA) 12-1 (10-3) Mid-division in touch, reminder 6th, driven and outpaced 4 out, no impression from next, left moderate 4th last, 4th of 9, 40l behind Working Title (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd.
Oenologue (FR) 8-11fav (11-8) Held up in rear, took nice hold, mistake 6th, headway on bit to challenge 2 out, led last, shaken up, edged left and quickened away flat, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb beating King In Waiting (11-12) by 3l, 8 ran.
Olympian (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, effort 4 out, weakened approaching next, never dangerous, 8th of 12, 44l behind The Jigsaw Man (11-6) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Occasionally Yours (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Carribs Leap (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Johnny Mullen (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 9, 19l behind County Zen (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Mar.
Warne's Way (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Always towwards rear, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Tribe (11-8) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Ned Ludd (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) In touch on outside, not fluent 3rd, mistake 6th, soon outpaced, rallied 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 12l behind Maraafeq (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Sparrow Hills (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, left in narrow lead 7th, hit and pecked 12th, wandered and headed 14th, lost place 4 out, 4th and beaten when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Pheidias (11-4) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gf in May, 6 ran.
Special Day (FR) 13-8 (11-5) Chased leaders, driven after 3 out, one pace and held when switched right approaching last, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Lupanar (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo hdl (4) gs in May '08.
Sir Du Bearn (FR) (10-5) won at Pau(FR) 2m 1f hdl in Jan beating Sadoum Ludois (10-5) by 1l, 13 ran.
Beside The Fire 10-3 (11-0) Tracked leaders, chased winner after 3 out, no impression 2 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Paint The Clouds (11-0) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Via Galilei (IRE) 8-11fav (11-0) Held up towards rear and well off the pace, rapid headway before 3 out, mistake and switched sharply right 3 out, challenged going best 2 out, led before last, edged left flat, ridden out and in command final 100 yards, won at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Apr beating Mid Wicket (10-6) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
