held up towards rear, headway 11th, lost place before 3 out, well beaten next
led until after 4 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, lost place 6th, pecked slightly 9th, mistake 3 out, soon outpaced, 4th from 2 out
held up, not fluent 4 out, headway approaching next, 3rd before 2 out, unable to challenge, one pace flat
mid-division, headway 6th, led after 4 out, pressed briefly last, edged left flat, stayed on
held up in rear, took keen hold, mistake 4th, closed 6th, soon steadied, blundered 10th, well beaten after 3 out, fell last
tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, challenging when not fluent last, held after, stayed on
tracked leader, every chance when not fluent 4 out, lost place before 2 out
Half of this field will be carrying more than their allotted weight but none of the top four have been in the best of form of late. Poquelin won this under a big weight in 2011 but Wishfull Thinking is starting to look a little long in the tooth. Voix D'eau was well beaten off this mark at Ascot in December but Mikey Legg takes off 5lb. Cloud Creeper seems suited by flatter tracks and return from a break but Johns Spirit has won three times here on the Old Course. Next Sensation, however, is best over 2m and Tenor Nivernais would probably need to the heavens to open to get involved. ART MAURESQUE just never fired in a Grade 3 here at The Festival and, along with Johns Spirit, was pulled up. But he finished ahead of a number of these in the Paddy Power back in November and a return to that form would put him right in the firing-line on today's terms.
Wishfull Thinking 10-3 (11-10) Tracked leaders, under pressure after 4 out, soon lost touch, left in remote 2nd at 2 out, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 3, dist behind Triolo D'Alene (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Jan.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Prominent, led after 2nd, headed 6th, under pressure 13th, behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Cloud Creeper (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, mistake 6th, headway on inside 3 out, no impression, mistake and well beaten 2 out, 13th of 20, dist behind Annacotty (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 11-2jfav (11-0) Tracked leaders, mistake 11th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 13th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Voix D'Eau (FR) 5-2 (11-3) Held up, good headway into 3rd 7th, went 2nd 12th until approaching 3 out, chased leading pair, went modest 2nd again last until close home, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Royal Regatta (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (2) gs in Dec.
Next Sensation (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Pressed leader, every chance after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 14th of 24, 19 1/2l behind Solar Impulse (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Art Mauresque (FR) 11-1 (10-13) In touch, dropped to mid-division 5th, behind from 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Splash of Ginge 25-1 (11-8) Disputed lead until after 10th, lost place before 13th, mistake 16th, well beaten when blundered badly 3 out, 12th of 22, dist behind Cause Of Causes (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
