led, ridden and headed before last, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 4 out, went 3rd before last, one pace
tracked leader and keen, led before last, headed last 100 yards, kept on and held close home
towards rear, headway before 4 out, challenged last, led last 100 yards, all out
always towards rear, tailed off 4 out
held up mid-division, pushed along 4 out, soon weakened
towards rear, mistake 6 out, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, mistake 5 out, weakened before 3 out
towards rear, some headway from 4 out, soon weakened
always behind, tailed off 4 out
tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out, soon pulled up
Plenty of interesting sorts here including a couple of potentially useful recruits from the pointing arena in Constantine Bay and Follow The Bear. The market should help to sort out the Nicky Henderson duo, both of whom automatically command respect. Jolie Crickette is a noteworthy French recruit for the Alexander team who will handle conditions well and receives a useful allowance from all rivals whilst Brio Conti is hard to assess after falling at the first on his hurdling debut. One Forty Seven was awarded the race last time when the re-opposing Cracking Find was disqualified and should prove best of the pair here on 4lb better terms. Our Dancing Dandy cannot be ignored but in a wide-open affair full of imponderables, BILLY BRONCO is a speculative choice to build on a pleasing heavy ground success on his sole bumper start at Towcester last January.
Cracking Find (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Led, pressed from 2 out, edged left last 50 yards, bumped near finish, joined on winning line, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct beating Chelsea Flyer (10-12), 6 ran.
Billy Bronco 20-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders on outside, challenged over 4f out, led over 1f out, stayed on, ridden out, won at Towcester 2m mdn (6) hvy in Jan beating Pride Of Lecale (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Brio Conti (FR) 8-11fav (11-0) In touch, in 4th when fell 1st, at Kelso 2m mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Constantine Bay 4-5fav (12-0) Stdy hdwy 11; led aft 2 out; easy, won at Lydstep 2m 4f mdn sft in Mar beating Midnight Bliss (11-7) by 6l, 6 ran.
Greenworldsolution 12-1 (10-12) Chased leaders to halfway, soon behind, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Red Indian (10-12) at Newcastle 1m 7f (6) hvy in Dec.
Head To The Stars 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place 3rd, no impression after, well beaten 3 out, 12th of 16, dist behind Expedite (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
One Forty Seven (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, pushed along and challenged 2 out, ridden and edged left run-in, bumped rival near finish, joined winner on line (demoted and placed 2nd), won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct beating Cracking Find (10-12), 6 ran.
Our Dancing Dandy (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Made all, came clear final 3f, unchallenged, won at Bangor 2m 1f (6) hvy in Apr beating Twist On Ginge (10-13) by 20l, 5 ran.
Stick To The Plan (IRE) Gold Well gelding out of Chloes Choice.
Zolfo (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 7th, never reached leaders, weakened before last, 6th of 11, 26 1/2l behind Two Taffs (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) gs in Oct.
Jolie Crickette (FR) (11-4) 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Option Be (11-2) at Auteuil 2m 2f hvy in Sep.
Follow The Bear (IRE) 4-6fav (10-7) Hdwy 10; led 2 out; comf, won at Bitterley 2m 4f mdn gd in Apr beating Bleu Et Or (12-0) by 8l, 13 ran.
