mid-division, headway under pressure before 2 out, 5th and beaten when blundered last
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders after 3 out, challenged and hit 2 out, ridden to lead before the last, hard ridden run-in, all out
never travelled in rear and never in the race
last pair, pushed along and struggling after 3rd, soon lost touch, tailed off 5th
mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before next
chased leaders, hit 3rd and next, soon lost place, behind and pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, every chance when pecked 2 out, ridden between last two, kept on into 3rd run-in
held up in mid-division, steady headway approaching 4 out, challenged 2 out, chased winner last, kept on gamely under pressure run-in, gaining near finish, just held
chased leaders, challenged 3 out, led before next, ridden and headed before last, lost 2nd at the last, no extra and dropped to 4th run-in
raced keenly, led until before 2 out, weakened after 2 out
always towards rear, never involved
held up in mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders 2 out, weakened under pressure between last two
last pair and struggling before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on inside before 2 out, weakened between last two
chased leaders, mistake 4 out, pushed along before next, outpaced before 2 out, kept on into modest 6th run-in, never going pace to get involved
took keen hold in mid-division, mistake 5th, pushed along before 4 out, plugged on from 2 out, no threat
always towards rear and never on terms
towards rear when blundered 4 out, never a factor
Nonrunner
SHELFORD's form this season could hardly have worked out much better and he can complete the hat-trick. He edged out Emerging Talent, just beaten in a Grade 2 next time, on his reappearance and then won the Silver Trophy at Chepstow. The runner-up that day, Aubusson, went on to land a Grade 3 handicap at Haydock off a 6lb higher mark suggesting a 7lb rise in the weights won't stop Dan Skelton's highly progressive five-year-old. Activial and Balgarry have both been the subject of ante-post gambles but the former disappointed when last seen at Aintree in the spring and four-year-olds have a poor strike rate in this contest while the latter has been off the track for the best part of three years. Clondaw Warrior, third to Garde La Victoire in the Greatwood at Cheltenham, could be the pick of the Irish challengers though Bayan, from the yard that won this in 2012, never seems to run a bad race and could make the frame again.
Garde La Victoire (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Led until 4th, led after 3 out, driven and edged right after last, soon edged left, stayed on gamely, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov beating Vaniteux (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Bayan (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 3rd approaching last, kept on one pace run-in, no impression on winner, 2nd of 20, 3l behind Thomas Edison (10-6) at Galway 2m hcp hdl gd in Jul.
Swing Bowler 10-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, no chance with leaders, 5th of 13, 22l behind Ballyglasheen (10-10) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in May.
Ballyglasheen (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Last pair, modest 5th before 2 out, never on terms, mistake last, 5th of 7, 18l behind Faugheen (11-4) at Ascot 2m 3f hdl G2 (1) sft in Nov.
Goodwood Mirage (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway when hampered 3 out, switched left before last, led flat, held on, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating Lightening Rod (10-7) by nk, 15 ran.
Foxcub (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Disputed lead until led 4 out, ridden clear approaching 2 out, stayed on, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov beating Clondaw Kaempfer (11-12) by 7l, 9 ran.
Activial (FR) 11-2 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, ridden and weakened from last, 8th of 15, 17l behind Guitar Pete (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Pine Creek 16-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, jumped slowly 3rd, ridden before 2 out, 4th when hit last, stayed on same pace flat, 5th of 15, 8l behind Garde La Victoire (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Shelford (IRE) 6-1 (10-4) Made all, ridden before 3 out, pressed last, kept on, won at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Oct beating Aubusson (10-5) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Balgarry (FR) 6-1fav (10-5) Led 2nd, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace, no extra flat, 7th of 28, 16l behind Son Of Flicka (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar '12.
Pyromaniac (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, closed 4th, not fluent and last 3 out, plugged on from last, went 3rd towards finish, no impression towards finish, 3rd of 6, 13l behind Vyta Du Roc (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Nov.
Cool Macavity (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders on inside, close up from 5th, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, blundered last, headed flat, no extra towards finish, 4th of 9, 7l behind Hawk High (11-10) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Gassin Golf 3-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, not fluent 1st, challenged 3 out, soon led, edged left and driven flat, headed close home, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Bellgrove (10-4) at Perth 2m ltd hcp hdl (2) gs in Aug.
Jebril (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd before stumbled 5th, led and stumbled again 3 out, stumbled badly and headed 2 out, chased leaders, weakened last, 5th of 15, 8l behind Aqalim (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Hello George (IRE) 8-11fav (11-5) Tracked leader, jumped left 1st, led bypassing omitted 4th, headed after 2 out, no extra last, 3rd of 18, 9l behind Robinsfirth (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs.
Clondaw Warrior (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Held up in mid-division, headway 4 out, close up when mistake 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression on winner and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 15, 2l behind Garde La Victoire (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Minellaforleisure (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Held up in last pair, struggling when mistake 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th run-in, 4th of 8, 25l behind L'ami Serge (10-7) at Newbury 2m Lstd hcp hdl 0-155 (1) sft in Nov.
Sea Beat 13-2 (9-13) Tracked leaders, 5th 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 10th of 18, 12l behind Cool Macavity (10-7) at Punchestown 2m hcp hdl gd in Apr.
Baradari (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Prominent, not always fluent, challenged 4th, hit 4 out, lost place before 3 out, 13th of 15, 25l behind Garde La Victoire (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
