led until briefly headed 4 out, strongly pressed last, tired towards finish, held on all out
took keen hold, tracking leaders, wandered at several flights, mistake 3rd, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up in 6th or 7th, good headway to chase winner and hit 2 out, challenged on inside, went badly left and almost unseated rider last, ralllied towards finish, always held
in touch, went 2nd after 3 out until before next, weakened and tired jump last
held up in rear, mistake 2nd and 5th, never a factor
in touch, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders, stayed on same pace from 3 out
An interesting opener where we will take French raider POUR CHANGER to score from Ray Diamond and Excape. The selection remains a maiden after 13 starts, but has plenty of hurdling experience back home to draw upon, and he will find this easier than the novices' race he contested at Newbury over the Christmas period. He acts on bottomless ground, and he looks likely to go very well. Ray Diamond already has a soft ground course and distance win to his name, and we should put a line through his hefty defeat to Zaynar last time when considering today's contest. He should go better here, though under his penalty he is vulnerable. Excape won three of his last four on the flat and the latest of those came off a mark of 77 in handicap company. He will get the trip here and comes from hugely respected connections, but the ground is a major concern for him. Conversely, fellow debutant First Avenue has won with plenty of cut in the ground on the flat and from a mark of 86, and he has to be taken very seriously today with no stamina issues. Timmy Murphy gets the leg-up on Le Brocquy, who is another flat performer rated in the 80s and he acts on heavy and stays well on the level, so he too is entitled to get into the mix. Pour Changer is a tentative selection.
Ray Diamond 100-1 (10-13) Led, headed 2nd, weakening when mistake 3 out, 8th of 9, 46l behind Zaynar (11-4) at Ascot 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Excape (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Keen, made all, set steady pace, quickened approaching 2f out, ridden and stayed on strongly inside final furlong, won at Newmarket 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) gf in Jun beating Celt (9-7) by 1l, 11 ran (Flat).
First Avenue 17-2 (8-7) Prominent, driven 2f out, every chance over 1f, kept on same pace, 6th of 21, 9l behind Tropical Strait (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcap (2) sft in Nov (Flat).
Home 100-1 (10-12) In touch, outpaced 6th, stayed on again from 2 out, went 4th flat, 4th of 7, 22l behind Mr Thriller (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (4) sft.
Le Brocquy 66-1 (8-10) Mid-division, pushed along 4f out, weakend 3f out, last of 12, well behind Electrolyser (9-0) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) sft in Oct (Flat).
Ministerofinterior 4-1 (9-4) Prominent, ridden to lead briefly over 2f out, soon headed, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Imperium (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan (Flat).
Pinnacle Point 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division until hung right and weakened after 3 out, 10th of 16, 38l behind Ainama (11-4) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Pour Changer (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 3rd 2 out, hung left soon after, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 17, 12l behind Higgy's Boy (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Red And White (IRE) 7-2 (10-4) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, hanging left before 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 8, 15l behind Trenchant (11-0) at Warwick 2m 4yo mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Gofannon (GER) 18-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden to chase leaders between last 2, tired and mistake last, weakened run-in, 6th of 13, 19l behind Ronaldo Des Mottes (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan.
