held up, effort to chase leaders 3 out, soon ridden, outpaced, no impression from next
held up, in touch on outside, went 2nd before 3 out, challenged next, led last, driven clear flat, comfortably
not fluent 1st, in touch, jumped right and almost unseated rider next, chased leader 5th to before 3 out weakened next
tracked leader to 5th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on under pressure from next, no impression, lost 3rd post
in touch, mistake 4 out, outpaced next, 5th 2 out, stayed on flat to go 3rd post
behind, struggling 5th, never dangerous
CARLITO BRIGANTE has outstanding claims here, while 100-1 Cheltenham winner Baccalaureate has to be taken more seriously this time, and Ascendant is open to plenty of improvement. The first thing to say is that this is another really good race on paper, where we will side with Carlito Brigante on account of his easy Grade 2 success at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, when he looked a novice of serious potential. He has never yet won on ground faster than good to yielding, but there is hope that he will handle it, and if so it will take a very good one to beat him. Baccalaureate sprang a surprise when getting the better of Triumph Hurdle fancy Pistolet Noir at Cheltenham last Saturday and he handled this going on the only time he has raced on it thus far in France, so today he has made the long trip to prove that last weekend was no fluke. Ascendant looked smart when staying on strongly to complete a cross-code hat-trick here last week when the ground was also good. He looks mikely to make a bold bid to follow-up under a penalty and is probably the big danger. That said, we should not underestimate Brian Ellison's Ultimate. He was a ridiculously easy winner at Huntingdon before spreading a plate early on in his most recent run at Cheltenham in December. Despite that he was still in front at the last , but it cannot have helped and he is surely better than the official eight-and-a-half length fourth. Good ground suits and he is a serious player today. Melange has got over six lengths to find with the selection and should find a few too good, and our pick remains Carlito Brigante.
Baccalaureate (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Tracked leading trio, smooth headway soon after 2 out, tracked leader on long run to last, led last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan beating Pistolet Noir (11-7) by 2l, 7 ran.
Carlito Brigante (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Soon tracked leaders, went 2nd travelling well before straight, led before last, quickly clear, stayed on well, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 in Dec beating Alaivan (10-12) by 11l, 7 ran.
Ascendant 15-8 (10-7) Tracked leader, always travelling well, not fluent 3 out, led and jumped right last, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jan beating Kind Heart (10-7) by 6l, 10 ran.
Melange (USA) 12-1 (11-5) Held up, outpaced after 4 out, kept on from 2 out, 4th of 11, 6l behind Carlito Brigante (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Ultimate 2-1fav (11-3) Led, strongly pressed when hit 2 out, ridden and headed last, weakened, run-in, 4th of 11, 9l behind Olofi (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Orsippus (USA) 14-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 3 out, kept on one pace from last, 3rd of 13, 10l behind Kudu Country (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Lady Rusty (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Held up, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Stormy Weather (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
