held up in mid-division, smooth headway to track leaders going well before 2 out, every chance when hit 2 out, one pace when mistake last
held up well in rear, some headway after 3 out, soon ridden and weakened before next
mid-division, jumped slowly and weakened 7th, soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up well in rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly last, ran on run-in to take 2nd final 100 yards, not reach winner
mostly tracked leader, hit 4th, mistake 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
driven along in rear after 5th, never reached leaders
prominent in chasing group, hit 5th, under pressure 7th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
behind, brief effort on inside approaching 3 out, soon weakened
in touch in chasing group, hit 3rd, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on run-in
raced on outside, close up in chasing group, hit 3 out, ridden to chase leading trio 2 out, weakened before last
prominent in chasing group until ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, steady headway from 7th, led soon after 3 out, stayed on strongly from after next
led and soon clear, reduced advantage before 6th, ridden and soon headed after 3 out, weakened next
behind, mistake 6th, stayed on approaching 2 out, never reached leaders
never going well in rear, mistake and ridden 6th, well behind 3 out
prominent in chasing group, lost place after 5th, headway on outside and stayed on approaching 2 out, no extra between last two
in touch in chasing group, headway to track leaders from 7th, chased winner well before 2 out, 2 lengths down and ridden when blundered last, no impression and lost 2nd final 100 yards
Be Be King has shown progressive form in winning his three starts over hurdles this term and looks to be well treated for his handicap debut so gets the vote ahead of two other progressive performers Magnifico and Ungaro. The last mentioned was outclassed behind the useful Denman, a stablemate of the selection last time, and looks to be on a fair mark for his debut in a handicap. Hasty Prince should appreciate the drop back in distance having failed to stay three miles in the soft at Wetherby last time but probably needs some help from the handicapper, while Rayshan has more to do than when dead-heating in the mud at Carlisle last month. Francois Doumen's raiders always warrant respect but his representative Danaw looks to have plenty of weight and of more interest may be the ex-French Magnifico, who looks to be the pick of Martin Pipe's four runners ahead of Stormez, Alikat and Mioche d'Estruval. Be Be King has done everything asked of him this term though and is taken to complete a four-timer.
Danaw (FR) (10-6) Prominent, effort 2 out, no extra, 5th of 11, 13l behind Zaiyad (10-3) at Enghien 2m 3f hdl Grd 3 (1) in Dec.
Hasty Prince 12-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 9th, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 15, 11l behind Nine De Sivola (9-7) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Lord Sam (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Not fluent, chased leaders, blundered 12th and weakened quickly, behind when pulled up at the 16th in race won by Royal Auclair (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Sh Boom 20-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway 6th, chased leader before 2 out, weakened quickly, 5th of 9, 11l behind Dom d'Orgeval (10-11) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Magnifico (FR) 4-6fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led 2 out, clear last, ridden out, won at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Stoop To Conquer (10-12) by 8l, 6 ran.
Stormez (FR) 20-1 (11-8) In rear from 3rd, driven along from 6th, still 10th and well behind 2 out, good headway approaching last, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 10l behind Attorney General (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Be Be King (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, led after 3 out, ridden and jumped left 2 out and last, ran on, won at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan beating Oscar Park (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Alikat (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Behind, ridden 7th, kept on flat, never dangerous, 6th of 14, 13l behind St Matthew (11-4) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gs in Nov.
Rayshan (IRE) 22-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, hampered approaching 4th, headway 3 out, switched left flat, ridden and stayed on under pressure to lead post, won at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) hvy in Jan deadheating with Buck Whaley (10-6), 12 ran.
Fenix (GER) 10-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, led and mistake 2 out, driven and headed last, rallied close home, just failed, 2nd of 9, nk behind Dom d'Orgeval (10-11) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Dream Falcon 40-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway 9th, ridden after 3 out, one pace flat, 4th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Nine De Sivola (9-7) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Ungaro (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Held up, steady headway from 6th, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon one pace, 4th of 8, 23l behind Denman (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Jan.
Nonantais (FR) 16-1 (10-13) Led and soon clear, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened quickly, 6th of 9, 25l behind Afrad (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Special Rate (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) In touch, mistake and reminder 2nd, weakened after 9th, 11th of 15, 29l behind Nine De Sivola (9-7) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Mioche d'Estruval (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Held up, mistake 8th, ridden 12th, short lived effort 15th, 6th of 10, 33l behind Reflected Glory (11-6) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Waltzing Beau 33-1 (10-13) Chased leaders until after 6th, no chance when badly hampered 2 out, 19th of 23, well behind Hordago (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Nov.
Openide 9-1 (10-11) Led, driven along from 5 out, ridden and joined 2 out, rallied under pressure, headed before last, kept on, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Night Bridge (10-1) at Leopardstown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Jan.
Material World 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, chased winner from 3 out, soon ridden and no impression before next, but get on well run-in to hold 2nd, 2nd of 7, 5l behind It's Wallace (11-6) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Oct '04.
World Wide Web (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 14th in race won by L'aventure (10-4) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
