tracked leaders, weakened after 4th, pulled up 3 out
mid-division, ridden 6th, weakening when mistake 3 out, tired when fell heavy 2 out
led and set good pace, blundered 4th, hit 6th, headed 3 out, soon driven, held when left clear last
towards rear, mistake 4th, never better than finishing position
held up towards rear, stayed on from 3 out
always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, blundered last
keen in touch, weakened 5th, mistake when tired 2 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, weakening when mistake 5th, pulled up after 6th
refused, keen in rear, tailed off when refused and unseated rider approaching 5th
never better than mid-division
tracked clear leading pair, jumped slowly 4th, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, kept on same pace
prominent and keen, led 3 out, mistake 2 out, 6 lengths clear and in command when fell last
mid-division, headway 5th, mistake next, ridden to chase leader 3 out, left 2nd last
Avalon was easily the best of these on the level and is taken to make a winning hurdling debut at the main expense of Fabulous Jet and Foxtrot Yankee. The selection was lightly raced with Aidan O'Brien on the flat but showed enough when making a winning start in a Curragh maiden to be tried in the Great Voltigeur in which he finished a close third. Provided that he can translate his flat form to hurdles, Avalon should be too classy for his rivals today. Bureaucrat was useful on the flat when with John Gosden and could be an interesting recruit along with Christian Von der Recke's German raider Helmac, who is sure to have been well schooled. A market move for either Paul Webber's Chaplin or Martin Pipe's After Lent should be noted on their first starts over hurdles, while Fabulous Jet showed improved form at Fakenham last time and the Venetia William-trained gelding now looks to be getting his act together over hurdles. Foxtrot Yankee looked beaten when falling at the last at Cheltenham last time but that was in a decent race; however, Andy Turnell's gelding probably lacks the class or the speed of some decent-looking flat recruits, of which Avalon looks to be the pick.
After Lent (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Pulled hard in mid-division, ridden 3f out, no progress final 2f, 11th of 17, 9l behind Liberty Run (8-6) at Brighton 1m 2f sll hcp (6) gs in Oct (Flat).
Chaplin 2-1fav (9-0) In touch, hard ridden to chase leading pair halfway, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 8, 25l behind Magnetic Pole (9-0) at Brighton 1m 4f 3yo mdn (D3) sft in Oct '04 (Flat).
Double Ransom 10-1 (8-12) Took keen hold in touch, ridden over 2f out, no headway, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Augustine (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Dec (Flat).
El Corredor (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 12th of 14, well behind Waterloo Son (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 3f mdn hdl (F) gs in Dec.
Fabulous Jet (FR) 7-2fav (10-12) Led, hit 4th, ridden, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 14, 7l behind Arry Dash (10-12) at Fakenham 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Dec.
Foxtrot Yankee (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up, headway and hit 5th, ridden and struggling next, well behind when fell at the last in race won by Noland (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (C) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Helmac (GER) 10-1 (10-4) 8th of 10, well behind Apricale (10-12) at Capanelle 2m1f hdl sft in Nov.
Jacobin (USA) 80-1 (10-12) In touch until approaching 7th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Hoh Viss (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
Judge'n'thomas 100-1 (10-9) Always in rear, tailed off when unseated rider at the last in race won by Craven (11-2) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (E) gs in Dec, 25 ran.
Red Raptor 66-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, ridden 4f out, soon weakened, 13th of 17, well behind Pepporoni Pete (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nhf (H) gd in Dec.
Bubbling Fun 66-1 (8-4) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 16, 12l behind Fossgate (8-8) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Oct (Flat).
Oohourboo (IRE) Old Vic mare out of an unraced mare.
Rabbit 50-1 (10-11) Always in rear, 12th of 16, 26l behind Twist Bookie (11-1) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (F) gs in Dec.
Avalon 6-4fav (8-12) Chased leaders, pushed along 7f out, ridden over 5f out, outpaced final 3f, 4th of 6, 10l behind Art Eyes (8-7) at Newmarket 1m 6f 3yo lst stk (1) gd in Sept (Flat).
Bureaucrat 10-1 (8-7) Led until headed 2f out, kept on until weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 6l behind Clipperdown (8-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Sept (Flat).
The Composer 28-1 (8-3) Mid-division, effort over 2f out, no impression, 7th of 16, 10l behind Rawdon (9-4) at Haydock 1m 3f hcp (4) gs in Sept (Flat).
