chased leaders, went 2nd 5 out, led before 3 out, clear last, easily
held up in rear, mistake 1st, hit 10th, never involved
led, clear 2nd, pecked 3rd, reduced lead before 7th, headed before 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, pecked 5th, well beaten from 5 out
chased leader until 5 out, weakened from 3 out
held up towards rear, headway after 11th, outpaced 5 out, went 4th from 2 out, no impression
not always fluent, chasing leaders on outside 2nd, hit 11th, mistake 3 out, no impression in 3rd from 2 out
mid-division, headway on inside 11th, went 2nd from 2 out, no impression on winner, stayed on
chased leaders, lost some ground 3rd, closed 7th, struggling towards rear 11th, well beaten 4 out
Amour De Nuit is 3-7 over fences and ran really well in a Grade 3 hurdle on his reappearance. There should be more to come over fences this year from Phoenix Way and he finished ahead of Umbrigado at Aintree in the spring but Morning Vicar is 11lb higher than when successful over course and distance just over a year ago having scored again at Perth in April. Gaelik Coast has returned in good form but is upped in class and Eritage is probably high enough in the weights at present. Hat-trick seeker Neville's Cross seems best on quicker ground so this can go to FANION D’ESTRUVAL (NAP). Aso won this for the yard in 2018 carrying a big weight and the six-year-old is equally classy. He’s been dropped a pound since finishing fourth in the Old Roan at Aintree with the third advertising the form in the Paddy Power at Cheltenham earlier this month.
Fanion D'estruval (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place 3rd, pushed along in last after 8th, behind 4 out, tailed off 3 out, ran on flat, finished strongly and took 4th towards finish, 4th of 8, 4l behind Allmankind (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Phoenix Way (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Held up in last, not fluent 12th, went 4th when not fluent 2 out, no impression on leaders, 4th of 7, 14l behind Protektorat (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Eritage (FR) 9-4fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, no extra after the last, 4th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Kauto The King (10-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in May.
Gaelik Coast (FR) 2-1 (12-1) Held up, closed 5th, not much room and went 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, all out, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Oct beating Slanelough (11-4) by 2l, 6 ran.
Morning Vicar (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Made all, untidy 4 out, ridden before last, went clear run-in, won going away, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Fire Away (11-3) by 8l, 4 ran.
Neville's Cross (IRE) 6-4 (11-12) Held up in rear, almost upsides 12th, led narrowly 13th, ridden before 3 out, drew clear 2 out, pushed out, won at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Lost In Montmartre (10-1) by 6 1/2l, 3 ran.
Amour de Nuit (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Led, pressed 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on well, no extra after last, 3rd of 17, 6 1/2l behind Orbys Legend (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Colorado Doc 14-1 (11-6) Raced keenly, led until 2nd, chased leaders, ridden and weakened between last two, 4th of 10, 37 1/4l behind Take Your Time (10-11) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Due Reward (IRE) 40-1 (11-13) Raced keenly, chased leaders on inside, ridden and unable to quicken between last two, driven and kept on again run-in, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 4 1/4l behind Rockstar Ronnie (11-9) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Umbrigado (IRE) 22-1 (11-10) Hampered start, in touch, headway 3 out, ridden to go 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 12, 16 1/2l behind Hunters Call (11-8) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
