held up, headway 4th, led after 6th, clear 3 out, easily
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, fell 3rd
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden 6th, soon weakened
with leader to 6th, weakened quickly
held up in touch, headway after 5th, ridden after next, went 2nd 3 out, kept on, no chance with winner
prominent to 5th, behind when mistake last
led to after 6th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
in touch, lost place 4th, behind from 6th, kept on flat, never dangerous
Allumee can give Philip Hobbs another winner, with Saif Sareea, Ambersong and Napoleon seen as other main players. Allumee overcame a six-month break at Worcester in October to record a convincing win over Turbo and open his account in the process. He was then sent over fences for the first time at Leicester in November but raced much too keenly and failed to justify favouritism, finishing second to Lord Lington. He will no doubt be going back over the bigger obstacles at some point, but in the meantime the decision to switch him straight back over timber can prove the right one. Paddy Brennan has the ride with Richard Johnson on board the stable's other runner Napoleon who appears to have just gone off the boil a bit. A bigger danger to the selection then may be Saif Sareea who was successful on the Flat last year, and who has carried that form over to hurdles, scoring twice at Musselburgh. He is creeping up the handicap but should still run well on this first trip south of the border since October. Ambersong has more to do than when beating Elaala (who runs in the opener today) in a selling contest here last time, and with the Nicholls stable firing blanks at the weekend, a watching brief on Andreas may be the best option. Allumee gets the vote.
Andreas (FR) 7-2fav (11-1) Held up in touch, steady headway to dispute 2nd 3 out, stumbled next, weakened before last, 6th of 10, 14l behind Bold Bishop (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (B) gs in Nov.
Atahuelpa 50-1 (11-12) Always behind, 13th of 14, 34l behind Prairie Moonlight (11-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jan.
Napoleon (IRE) 9-2fav (11-7) Mid-division, pushed along 5th, soon lost place, behind from 3 out, 11th of 15, 38l behind Texas Holdem (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Jan.
Allumee 5-6fav (11-5) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led, pecked 5th, mistake 3 out, ridden, headed approaching last, weakened flat, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Lord Lington (11-5) at Leicester 2m nov chs (D) gf in Nov.
Whaleef 9-4fav (11-9) Tracked leaders fell at the 4th in race won by Cedar Rapids (10-11) at Catterick 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jan, 10 ran.
Milligan (FR) 200-1 (11-0) Hit 1st, soon well behind, 7th of 8, 19l behind Royal Shakespeare (11-4) at Sandown 2m lst hdl (1) gd.
Saif Sareea 11-4 (10-11) Held up, smooth headway approaching 4 out, tracked leaders 3 out, ridden after last, ran on towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 14, hd behind Sun King (9-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Ambersong 9-1 (11-13) Held up, headway 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, ran on to lead last strides, won at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) gf beating Elaala (9-7) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
It's The Limit (USA) 10-1 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed when mistake 2 out, no chance when hit last, 4th of 11, 8l behind Amanpuri (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Hunting Lodge (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division, hit 5th, ridden next, kept on same pace, 5th of 14, 11l behind Walsingham (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
