led until not fluent 13th (water), led 14th, headed 17th, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, no extra flat
with leader, not fluent 1st, led 13th, headed next, led 17th until jumped right and mistake 3 out, soon weakened
chasing leaders 2nd, not fluent 15th, driven after 3 out, went 2nd and stayed on flat, no impression on winner
held up in rear, not much room 9th, not fluent 11th, headway 14th, outpaced 16th, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, jumped right 9th, not fluent and lost place 12th, mistake 17th and 3 out, closed before 2 out, went 3rd flat, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, headway 13th, challenging when bumped 3 out, led before next, clear approaching last, idled, ridden out
Emerging Force hasn’t done much wrong so far, winning at Hereford and Exeter, though this is easily his toughest task to date. Relentless Dreamer, Singlefarmpayment and Laurium all attempt to make the step up from handicaps but the latter was well behind Emerging Force on his penultimate start and looks to have little chance of reversing those placings, despite better terms. ARPEGE D’ALENE was a disappointing favourite on his fencing bow at Chepstow but appreciated a stiffer test of stamina at Aintree and could follow up here if the blinkers work a second time. Label Des Obeaux probably came up against a smart novice in American at Exeter and, aged just five, can only improve.
Emerging Force (IRE) 8-15fav (11-6) Jumped slightly right at times, led until 2nd, tracked leader, led 4 out, edged right flat, driven out, won at Exeter 3m (2) gd in Nov beating Southfield Vic (11-9) by 2l, 4 ran.
Relentless Dreamer (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, made rest, in command after 3 out, stayed on strongly, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Minellacelebration (11-3) by 11l, 8 ran.
Arpege D'alene (FR) 7-4jfav (11-0) Led 2nd, headed 7th, not fluent next, hampered 2 out (normal 5 out), coaxed along behind leader in home straight until produced to lead after omitted last, soon clear, won at Aintree 3m 1f (3) gs in Nov beating Wotzizname (11-0) by 10l, 3 ran.
Laurium 10-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, soon led, clear before last, kept on well, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Sykes (11-1) by 8l, 6 ran.
Label Des Obeaux (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway to track leaders before 6 out, went 2nd from 3 out, kept on and held run-in, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind American (11-0) at Exeter 3m (3) sft in Nov.
Singlefarmpayment 4-1jfav (11-6) Left chasing leaders 1st, 2nd 10th, led 4 out, pushed along and joined 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Beware The Bear (11-3) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
