always prominent, chased winner after 7th, no impression
chased leaders, struggling 7th, soon weakened
chased leader until after 7th, weakened 3 out, behind when not fluent 2 out, soon pulled up, dismounted
mid-division, blundered 5th and reminders, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
mid-division, behind from 6th, tailed off
took keen hold, held up and behind, not fluent 2nd, behind from 6th, tailed off
made all, clear 8th, unchallenged
held up in touch, jumped big 3rd and 4th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in rear, behind from 6th, tailed off when fell 8th
held up and behind, not fluent 2nd, some headway 6th, struggling from 8th, tailed off
Golden Child has outstanding claims, with only Santando and Amore Mio boasting enough worthwhile form to make a race of it. In truth this is a moderate contest, and connections of Golden Child must already be counting the winnings. Successful on three of his four starts to date, he put a poor hurdles debut at Ascot to rest when scoring at Kempton last time, and faces no harder task here. Related on the dam's side to the likes of Ned Kelly and Nick Dundee, he can take this in his stride before going on to better things. Santando appears to be the one to chase him home based on earlier efforts, and he should at least fare better than when lining up as a no-hoper in the Ballymore Properties Hurdle at Cheltenham. Amore Mio can fill the other place, but there can only be one winner on form, and that is Golden Child.
Santando 150-1 (11-7) Always rear, struggling and mistake 5th, soon lost touch, 14th of 15, well behind Massini's Maguire (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs.
Golden Child (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, led 7th, hit 3 out, ridden and headed next, rallied to lead last, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) hvy beating Greenhill Bramble (11-2) by 11l, 5 ran.
Amore Mio (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Chased ldrs; no impression, 4th of 13, 16l behind Keenans Reserve (12-0) at Cottenham 2m 4f ptp gd in Jan.
Just Playfull 50-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden halfway, soon struggling, 10th of 14, 23l behind Appleaday (10-11) at Ludlow 2m nhf (4) gs in Dec.
Lord Mayor 100-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, weakened next, 10th of 18, 33l behind Valiant Shadow (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft.
Oscardeal (IRE) 66-1 (10-10) Led until after 1st, chased leader, jumped slowly 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 18, 20l behind Jungleland (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gs.
Kalmo Bay (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Towards rear, never dangerous, 7th of 9, 34l behind Soubriquet (10-9) at Kelso 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) hvy.
Imperial Dream (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Towards rear, reminders halfway, struggling when pulled up 2 out in race won by Bang And Blame (11-1) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 9 ran.
