chased leaders, led 10th, strongly challenged 2 out, stayed on well
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, weakening when blundered and unseated rider last
always behind, pulled up 3 out
led until 8th, rallied 3 out, weakened after next
tracked leaders, mistke 6th, led 8th, headed 10th, soon lost place
held up towards rear, headway when fell 8th
tracked leaders, under pressure 7th, soon outpaced, rallied 3 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on under pressure
mid-division, headway 10th, chased leaders 2 out, soon one pace
behind, weakened 4 out
mid-division, headway 4 out, chasing leader when mistake 2 out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
King Edmund has his sights lowered a little and, despite joint top weight, it would be no surprise to see Chris Gordon's C&D winner in the firing-line. Hold Fast still has plenty of scope for improvement and wasn't disgraced on his reappearance at Newbury, though has ground to make up on Passato on that run, while Renard rattled up a hat-trick last month though he's now 8lb higher than his last winning mark and his stable is going through a bit of a quiet spell. Lancetto is a decent novice but the handicapper probably needs to cut Russian Flag some slack and preference is for POLITEO. He likes soft ground and won over this trip at Limerick in March. An encouraging second over 2m3f here on his first start for Nick Williams, he can go one better today.
King Edmund 10-1 (10-11) Pressed leader, led approaching 4th, not fluent and headed 2 out, chased leaders until weakened before last, 4th of 11, 8l behind I'msingingtheblues (11-9) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Nov.
Lancetto (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Led, joined 10th, headed 3 out, lost 2nd next, kept on same pace, no chance with leading pair flat, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Al Ferof (11-2) at Sandown 2m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) gs.
Russian Flag (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Prominent, hit 3rd, lost place approaching 4 out, soon behind, 15th of 17, well behind Tanks For That (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Fix The Rib (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) In touch main group, behind and outpaced 10th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Sizing Europe (11-7) at Sandown 2m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs.
Passato (GER) 25-1 (11-5) Led, hit 7th, driven and kept on gamely from 4 out, hit next, over 1 length ahead last, no extra and headed close home, 2nd of 7, nk behind Rileyev (10-8) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Tara Royal 11-4fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, tracked leading pair after 5 out, every chance 2 out, ridden and no extra when left 6 lengths 2nd last, no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 8, 15l behind Stagecoach Pearl (11-7) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Nov '10.
Renard (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Led until after 1st, chased leader, led again 2nd until 4th, tracked leading pair, led again before ommited 4 out, driven before last, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating Betabob (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Moon Over Miami (GER) 20-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, chased leaders, blundered 2nd, went 2nd 4th, mistake and lost 2nd 9th, mistake 4 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 7, 19l behind Rileyev (10-8) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Politeo (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, chased winer before 2 out, one pace and no impression, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Quito Du Tresor (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
War Party 6-1 (11-5) Towards rear, reminder after 1st, weakened before 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mibleu (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Aug, 11 ran.
Hold Fast (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Tracked leadrs until slow and lost place 4th, ridden next, rallied on outside approaching 9th, chased leaders 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, plugged on again to modest 4th flat, 4th of 7, 7l behind Rileyev (10-8) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
