raced on outside, held up in touch, headway into 2nd 3 out, every chance 2 out, chased winner after, stayed on same pace last
raced wide, led, strongly pressed 2 out, headed narrowly soon after, stayed chasing leaders until ridden, edged left and no extra flat
close up until ridden and struggling after 8th, soon behind, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd before 9th, every chance 3 out, weakened under pressure soon after, no chance when hit last, tailed off
raced wide, held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged on outside 2 out, soon narrow lead, ridden and hung left approaching last, driven and kept on well flat
raced wide, close up, headway to track leading pair 9th, not much room and bumped 3 out, every chance when rider dropped reins next, found no extra last
chased leader until approaching 9th, weakened rapidly, tailed off and pulled up approaching 2 out
raced wide, chased leaders until ridden and weakened soon after 3 out, tailed off
not fluent, always in rear, ridden and struggling 3 out, tailed off
Once again the King stable has a leading claim on this prize through Towcester bumper winner Stormhoek, but preference is for Emma Lavelle's LE COMMENCEMENT. The selection has won a couple of races on good ground but pedigree suggests that cut won't be an issue, and the seven-year-old comes here fit after winning a similar contest last time, while he can make a test of it over this shorter trip. The yard's runners are going well and he is suggested. Stormhoek is also unproven with cut, but his sire Alderbrook, a former Champion Hurdle winner, acted on it, and it shouldn't be a problem. He should be plenty straight enough for his hurdling debut and can go very well. Dawn Choir was a 12-length Roscommon winner last time on fast ground, but does act with cut, and is very much respected, while best of the rest looks to be Quartano, who switches back to hurdles here and acts on the ground. He goes well fresh, and should be very competitive, but we'll take Le Commencement to score.
Dawn Choir (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd before straight, led after 2 out, clear and stayed on well from last, comfortably, won at Roscommon 2m 4f mdn hdl gf in Sep beating Rocket Boy (11-5) by 12l, 15 ran.
Le Commencement (IRE) Evensfav (10-12) Tracked leaders, jumped right and not fluent 1st, not much room on inside, squeezed through to lead 2 out, driven flat, stayed on (no time taken), won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Mocho (10-7) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Diamond Supreme (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Tailed off from 5th, 7th of 12, well behind Bolton Hall (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Knight Woodsman 200-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, effort 2 out, soon ridden and kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 6l behind Meridian City (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd in Oct.
Quartano (GER) 4-6fav (11-0) Chased leading pair, driven and one pace when pecked 3 out, driven and kept on run in, took 2nd last strides but no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Fix The Rib (11-0) at Folkestone 2m mdn chs (4) gd in Jan.
Stormhoek (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 4f out, went 2nd over 1f out, led inside final furlong, edged left, ran on, won at Towcester 2m NH flat (5) gd in Apr beating Little George (10-11) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
Walkingonsunshine 66-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, weakened from next, 6th of 10, well behind Palypso De Creek (11-4) at Towcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Yes Minister (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Always rear division, tailed off, 9th of 13, 38l behind Nodforms Violet (11-0) at Ascot 2m NH flat (4) gd in Oct.
Tegan Lee 28-1 (10-10) Ran out, led, jumped badly left 1st and 2nd, ran out next, in a race won by Alegralil (10-10) at Towcester 2m mares NH nov hdl (4) gs, 14 ran.
