made all, quickened from 5th, in command 2 out, well clear when hit last, eased run-in
very free to post, settled in rear, no chance with leaders from 3 out, stayed on to take poor 3rd soon after 2 out
raced in 3rd place, chased winner from 5th, effort on outside and no impression when hit 2 out
took keen hold early, held up in touch, mistake 3rd, brief effort 3 out, weakened rapidly soon after
raced in 4th place, outpaced and dropped to rear approaching 3 out, soon tailed off
chased winners to 5th, weakened quickly from next
Although having to give 8lbs away all round, Mr President is hard to oppose and gets the vote ahead of Enhancer and Marki. The last mentioned, a winner on the flat in France, disappointed on his hurdling debut behind the useful Rubberdubber at Newbury but it may be too soon to write off Francois Doumen's gelding. Lifted Way was a miler on the flat and is far from certain to stay the trip over hurdles so a bigger threat may come from Enhancer. A triple bumper winner, the seven-year-old has yet to show the same form over hurdles but cannot be dismissed entirely in this company. He makes more appeal than Ezz Elkheil, who has a long absence to overcome, and hurdling newcomer Barton Park. The vote though goes to Mr President. The Venetia Williams-trained gelding was a dual winner at Leicester in December prior to a defeat in a handicap at Kempton. The six-year-old showed his previous sparkle when a close third behind the useful Bagan at the same venue last time and a reproduction of that effort may suffice.
Mr President (GER) 7-2jt-fav Close up, effort and every chance 2 out, one pace approaching last, 3rd of 17, 3 1/2l behind Bagan at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (D) gd in Jan.
Barton Park 4-1 Mid-division, weakened 6f out, 8th of 12, well behind Back Among Friends at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (H) hvy in Dec.
Enhancer 5-1 In touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 14, 15l behind The Market Man at Kempton 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Nov.
Ezz Elkheil 14-1 Blundered and unseated rider in race won by Lacdoudal at Kempton 2m nov hdl (D) gd in Mar, 17 ran.
Marki (FR) 7-2 Never fluent, always behind, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Rubberdubber at Newbury 2m nov hdl (B) gs in Dec.
Marron Prince (FR) 100-1 Took keen hold in rear, tailed off before 2 out, 10th of 13, well behind Jair Ohmsford at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Jan.
Lifted Way 9-1 Led until narrowly headed 2f out, chased leader to over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 14th of 15, 12l behind Armagnac at Sandown 7f hcp (D2) gd in Sept (Flat).
