in touch, hit 2nd and 6th, blundered badly and unseated rider 8th
chased leaders, hit 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off and pulled up before last
held up, smooth headway to track leaders 9th, ridden after 2 out, weakened last
held up, not fluent 3rd, struggling from 9th, not a danger after
tracked leaders, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on strongly
prominent, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led, hit 6th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
raced wide, held up, headway 3 out, effort 2 out, weakened approaching last
Labelthou is preferred to Massini's Maguire and The Whisperer. The mare has been a revelation since switching to Emma Lavelle's operation and on the evidence of her most recent run, there is clearly plenty more to come. Massini's Maguire has been called a few names in the past but he stays well and shouldn't face too many perils as far as this step up in trip is concerned. The Whisperer performed a demolition job on debut at Kelso and connections take the rare decision to take on decent opposition rather than pot-hog up North. Hockenheim has not looked the most natural of hurdlers in the past and looks one to follow when tried over chase fences. Christdalo won emphatically at Chepstow and is in receipt of a valuable 5lb mares' allowance. Labelthou is a mare on the upgrade and we keep faith again on this occasion.
Massini's Maguire (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd just after 5th, led next, not fluent 2 out, ridden and kept on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gs in Nov beating Wichita Lineman (11-8) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Hockenheim (FR) 2-1jt-fav (11-3) Led early, chased leader, led again 3 out, ran on well, won at Carlisle 3m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Ballyboley (10-11) by 8l, 7 ran.
The Whisperer (IRE) 4-7fav (10-12) In touch, smooth headway to lead 8th, driven out and soon clear, eased run-in, won at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Top Cloud (10-9) by 17l, 14 ran.
Air Force One (GER) (10-1) In the lead when fell in race won by Hatari (10-6) at Munich 2m hdl sft in Nov '05, 6 ran.
Flight Leader (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Prominent, headway 3 out, ridden and challenged approaching 2 out, every chance last, hard ridden flat, just failed, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Leading Attraction (10-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Imperial Commander (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Prominent, jumped slowly 3rd, not fluent 2nd, led 3rd to 6th, ridden 2 out, still every chance approaching last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 9l behind Massini's Maguire (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Labelthou (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Led, headed after 3 out, led and quickened clear approaching 2 out, unchallenged, won at Sandown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft beating Granit Jack (11-0) by 22l, 5 ran.
Christdalo (IRE) 8-11fav (10-7) Mid-division, headway 6th, led approaching 4 out, clear approaching last, easily, won at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (4) sft beating Old Benny (11-0) by 12l, 16 ran.
