chased leaders, niggled along after 3 out, ridden and beaten before next, weakened
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, outpaced 3 out, rallied next, went 2nd flat, no impression final 100 yards
chased winner, not fluent 3rd, ridden before 2 out, lost 2nd last, one pace
made all, clear until 3rd, ridden before 2 out, stayed on gamely, drew clear again towards finish
Last year's runner-up IRVING should have the measure of these. Well beaten in the Fighting Fifth last time, that run came only a week after winning at Haydock and Paul Nicholls’ charge had landed the Elite Hurdle over track and trip before that. Rayvin Black beat Melodic Rendezvous easily enough when winning at Sandown last month and has subsequently run well in pattern company, including a Listed handicap back at Sandown. He's also preferred to Pain Au Chocolat with the latter reverting to hurdles on the back of a couple of novice chase victories.
Irving 2-1jfav (11-7) Held up towards rear in touch, 6th when blundered 4 out, soon outpaced, well beaten when ridden after next, 6th of 7, dist behind Identity Thief (11-7) at Newcastle 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Melodic Rendezvous 13-2 (11-4) Held up behind and in touch, pushed along before 3 out, soon went 3rd, one pace, 3rd of 6, 6 3/4l behind The New One (11-12) at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Pain Au Chocolat (FR) 2-7fav (11-2) Made all, unchallenged, won at Newcastle 2m (4) sft in Feb beating Captain Hox (10-12) by 20l, 3 ran.
Rayvin Black 11-4 (11-0) Led into start, led, slowed pace before 3 out, ridden and tried to quicken pace before 2 out, headed before last, every chance flat, stayed on, held close home, 2nd of 4, nk behind Connetable (10-4) at Sandown 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
