in touch, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden before next, no extra last
close up, led briefly 13th, soon headed, pushed along before next, faded 2 out
held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, nudged along before 4 out, went third 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, lost place 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before next
led, headed briefly 13rd, soon led again, extending advantage when good jump 2 out, kept on well from last, comfortably
held up in rear, slow 10th, ridden before 13th, in touch approaching 4 out, ridden before next, well held from 2 out
prominent, outpaced and lost place briefly before 3 out, rallied to go second approaching 2 out, kept on one pace from last, no match for winner
Messire Des Obeaux is 2-2 over course and distance and has gone well fresh in the past. CELEBRE D’ALLEN rattled up a hat-trick last season before finishing fifth in a Grade 3 at the Cheltenham Festival. He probably didn’t stay 3m on his reappearance at Warwick and has dropped 2lb since. Magic Saint hasn’t won for a while and might need this but Elixir De Nutz came right back to form over 2m at Doncaster and Kiltealy Briggs led for a long way at Aintree after a win at Market Rasen. Galahad Quest is back on a winning mark and would certainly have a chance on last season’s form but was found to have an irregular heartbeat after his latest run at Cheltenham.
Magic Saint (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up off the pace in rear, headway 13th, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 10, 10 1/4l behind Torn And Frayed (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Jan.
Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Disputed lead to 3rd, remained prominent until pushed along 2 out, not pace to challenge leading trio close home, 4th of 13, 8 1/2l behind Brave Seasca (12-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Messire Des Obeaux (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Mid-division, hampered by faller 9th, headway to track leader 5 out, pushed along home turn, keeping on one pace and well held when bad mistake last, 3rd of 7, 28l behind L'Homme Presse (11-1) at Ascot 2m 5f (2) gs in Dec.
Elixir De Nutz (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Led, mistake 4th, faced strong challenge from 4 out, ridden and headed narrowly approaching last, kept on and every chance run-in, just held, 2nd of 5, nk behind Xcitations (11-6) at Doncaster 2m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Celebre D'Allen (FR) 2-1fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, driven along after next, soon outpaced, plugged on one pace, 4th of 10, 14 3/4l behind Ramses De Teillee (11-1) at Warwick 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Galahad Quest (FR) 14-1 (10-3) Always rear-division, never involved, 9th of 14, 29l behind Ga Law (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
