took keen hold, tracked leader, effort travelling well to lead before 2 out, hard driven and joined flat, no extra and headed final 130 yards
led, ridden and headed before 2 out, no impression when lost 3rd before last, weakened and no chance with leading duo
tracked leading pair, ridden and struggling before 2 out
held up in touch, went 4th soon after 6th, mistake 3 out, chased leader before last, stayed on gamely under pressure to lead final 120 yards
held up last, went poor 4th flat, never on terms, tailed off
chased leading pair until hit 6th, soon lost place, tailed off
Lucinda Russell won this last year and launches another strong challenge with Lucia Bay and the more strongly fancied Tap Night. The latter goes from strength to strength after comfortable victories at Carlisle and Newcastle but has yet to meet an opponent of CAPTAIN CONAN's ability. Nicky Henderson's charge came unstuck in the Grade 1 Deloitte at Leopardstown last time but had landed the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown before that and is fancied to return to winning ways here. Bury Parade and Into Wain have both shown progressive form in soft ground, but French import Ubaltique is hard to assess after his debut win over hurdles at Pau.
Captain Conan (FR) 11-4 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 5th 2 out, no extra from early straight, 6th of 7, 16l behind Benefficient (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Bury Parade (IRE) 8-11fav (11-2) Made virtually all, drew readily clear on long run between last 2, unchallenged when went left and mistake last, very easily, won at Hexham 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Soul Bid (10-7) by 20l, 8 ran.
Into Wain (USA) 7-4 (11-10) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 4 out, led soon after 2 out, in command when mistake last, stayed on well flat, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Ashbrittle (11-10) by 2l, 13 ran.
Tap Night (USA) 8-13fav (11-5) Held up mid-division, went 2nd before 6th, led before 2 out, soon clear, not fluent last, eased towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Falcun (10-5) by 12l, 9 ran.
Ubaltique (FR) (10-5) won at Pau(FR) 2m 1f 4yo hdl sft in Jan beating Une Sainte Du Lys (10-5) by 6l, 17 ran.
Lucia Bay 6-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd after 3rd, led before 3 out, blundered and headed 3 out, regained lead 2 out, kept on well, eased towards finish, won at Ayr 2m mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Mae's Choice (11-12) by 4l, 5 ran.
