in touch, tracked leading pair approaching 3rd, joined leader 10th, led 3 out, ridden and hard pressed flat, held on near finish
held up in touch, not fluent 3rd and next, driven to chase leaders when blundered 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression from next
held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd next, ridden to challenge and every chance flat, kept on, just held
led, joined 10th, headed 3 out, lost 2nd next, kept on same pace, no chance with leading pair flat
tracked leader to 10th, driven and outpaced approaching 3 out, no impression from next
always in rear, lost touch 7th, tailed off
tracked leading pair to before 3rd, soon lost place, 6th when blundered 9th, no danger after
AL FEROF, winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in March, made a very impressive debut over the larger obstacles at Cheltenham last month. He looks a natural over fences and should extend his winning run here. Lancetto hasn't done a lot wrong over fences, giving weight and a beating to the selection's stablemate Toubab at Cheltenham last time. He looks to be up against a top-class novice here, however, while Eradicate has more to do than when winning a three-runner race over a longer trip at Doncaster, though is open to improvement. Newbury winner Lidar also has a bit to find on the form book, while Megastar has been let down by his jumping so far and this may be too tough for Ultimate and For Non Stop.
Al Ferof (FR) 5-6fav (11-2) Tracked clear pair, close up 4 out, went 2nd going well after next, upsides 2 out, led before last, quickened clear flat, comfortably, won at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov beating Astracad (11-2) by 7l, 7 ran.
Eradicate (IRE) 2-9fav (10-12) Tracked leader, blundered 9th, joined leader from 10th, led before 4 out, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (4) gf in Nov beating Moonstreaker (11-1) by 30l, 3 ran.
For Non Stop (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in 5th off the pace, went 3rd 5th until 7th, went 3rd again next, ridden and no chance with leading pair from 3 out, left distant 2nd last, 2nd of 7, 27l behind Overturn (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f hdl G2 (1) gd in Nov.
Lancetto (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Led, sometimes jumped right, headed 9th, not fluent 3 out when leader was drawing clear, closed last, edged right flat, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m nov chs (2) gf in Oct beating Toubab (11-3) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Lidar (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Jumped well, made all, came clear from 3 out, unchallenged, won at Newbury 2m 1f Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (4yo+) (3) gd in Nov beating Celtus (11-2) by 33l, 4 ran.
Megastar 9-4 (11-2) Sometimes jumped right, tracked winner until 4th, blundered and lost ground on rivals 10th, ridden approaching 4 out, well beaten after 3 out, last of 3, well behind Notus De La Tour (11-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Ultimate 11-1 (10-4) Led narrowly to 2nd, regained narrow lead next, ridden and headed last, weakened flat, 10th of 23, 13l behind Brampour (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
