led until after 1st, chased leaders, blundered 4th, soon lost place and in rear, struggling 6 out, tailed off
held up, towards rear, mistake 5th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on well after last, never nearer
held up, in touch, weakened before 5 out, tailed off
prominent, led after 2nd, headed approaching and mistake 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led after 1st, headed after next, remained prominent, led again approaching and mistake 4 out, headed after next, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, led on bit after 3 out, drew clear before last, ran on strongly
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, weakened next
held up, towards rear, mistake 4th, headway approaching and mistake 8th, chased leaders next, effort before 2 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway 3 out, soon hard ridden, never on terms
mid-division, headway to chase leaders halfway, ridden to challenge before 2 out, kept on well under pressure
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, chased leaders 3 out, hard ridden to challenge next, stayed on same pace
NonRunner
Few 2m chasers are as consistent as Pearls Legend and John Spearing's nine-year-old was second in this last year on his comeback run, though is 5lb higher. Ulck Du Lin won this in 2014 but was pulled up 12 months ago and was again behind Pearls Legend at Cheltenham later. Roman Flight can be effective at this trip but his impressive win at Stratford came over 2m5f and he seems best at that track. Germany Calling won over 2m4f at Bangor and was beaten by Croco Bay at Worcester earlier but Yorkist could find further improvement now with Dan Skelton and is preferred to All Together and Festive Affair. Miss Tenacious beat NOCHE DE REYES by just under two lengths at Kempton but Tom George's charge is 4lb better off today so can turn the tables and get his head back in front.
Croco Bay (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Held up, in rear, headway when not clear run on inside after 4 out, disputing 11 lengths 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Roman Flight (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, led after 4 out, clear after 2 out, stayed on well, easily, won at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Mountain King (11-12) by 16l, 7 ran.
Ulck Du Lin (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st or 2nd, ridden and struggling 7th, well beaten before 2 out, 7th of 9, dist behind Fair Dilemma (10-9) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in May.
Lord Ben (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leader until after 6th, ridden and weakened after normal 2 out, 4th of 7, 17 1/2l behind Diamond Rock (10-8) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Germany Calling (IRE) 6-4 (11-11) Made all, jumped right, not fluent 3rd, driven clear flat, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Court Dismissed (10-6) by 5l, 3 ran.
Quite By Chance 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place when stumbled on bend after 10th, soon behind, no danger after, 6th of 9, 29 1/4l behind Art Mauresque (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in May.
Miss Tenacious 10-1 (11-4) Mostly jumped well, held up, steady headway tracking leaders before 7th, 2nd travelling well before 3 out, led 3 out, clear when not fluent last, ridden out, won at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Noche De Reyes (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Yorkist (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) In touch, mistake 4 out, soon outpaced, 5th of 7, 14 1/2l behind Aye Well (10-11) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
All Together (FR) 4-5fav (11-0) Led until 1st, led 3rd, driven after 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Ceporine (10-9) at Fakenham 2m 4f (3) gd in May.
Noche De Reyes (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 3rd before 3 out, 2nd 3 out, switched left approaching 2 out and ridden, one pace and held before last, driven and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Miss Tenacious (11-4) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Festive Affair (IRE) 17-2 (11-2) Led until 3 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Casino Markets (11-3) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Pearls Legend 8-1 (11-0) Led until before 4th, chased winner after until 2 out, 4th and beaten when mistake last, no extra final 100 yards, 4th of 12, 8 3/4l behind Katachenko (10-10) at Aintree 2m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
