chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, went second inside final furlong, stayed on, no chance with winner
prominent, ridden over 2f out, hung left and weakened over 1f out
mid-division, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, edged left and weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, pushed long over 3f out, stayed on from over 1f out, never in contention
whipped round start, lost 15 lengths, caught up with rear of group after 4f, lost touch again before halfway
pressed leader, still every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
mid-division, headway over 5f out, pressing leaders on outside but hung right over 2f out, edged left and weakened 1f out
held up, always in rear
held up in touch, ran green over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, pushed along over 5f out, weakened 1f out
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, never near leaders
took keen hold, held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, no progress
held up, pushed long over 3f out, always towards rear
slowly away, behind, always towards rear
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
Very little to go on here but we do know that Phillip Hobbs has run some of his best young horses in this race in recent years so that's enough for us to award the vote to ACCORDING TO DICK. Eighteenfifty and Romance Dance are a couple of others that could get into the shake-up. The Hobbs team have failed to get their name on the roll of honour since In Contrast won this in 2000 but they have sent out the likes of Dream Alliance and Snap Tie to make the frame and their winning Irish pointer looks the part on paper. Eighteenfifty won well enough from one of Alan Swinbank's at Market Rasen with the pair clear of the field and has to be of interest as do the pair of Irish winners who make the journey over to contest this contest. Romance Dance showed a decent level of form in defeat last season and may go well again but is probably vulnerable to something with more scope. Bobby On The Beat was a warm order to win a valuable Newbury bumper but failed to run his race in testing ground; that was a big ask for him first time out and he could prove to be a different proposition here. Any number of the remainder make appeal on paper and the market should prove to be revealing but there are sufficient reasons to believe that According To Dick will be amongst the leading players.
Eighteenfifty 7-4fav (10-13) Mid-division, headway 6f out, challenged 3f out, led on bit over 2f out, hard pressed over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well final furlong, held on, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Aug beating Another Moment (11-6) by 3/4l, 12.
Seldom Fed (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Always prominent, closer in 2nd into straight, narrow leader and strongly pressed from 2f out, kept on best, all out, won at Killarney 2m 1f nhf gd in Jul beating Branden Lady (10-11) by a hd, 17 ran.
According To Dick (IRE) (12-0) Won at Loughbrickland 3m Ir pt-to-pt hvy in Apr.
Annie Go (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway to 6th 4f out, led 2 1/2f out, kept on well from over 1f out, won at Dundalk 2m 1f 4yo nhf pol beating King Haim (11-3) by 4 1/2l, 18 ran.
Bobby On The Beat (IRE) 4-1co-fav (10-10) Held up towards rear, some progress 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 14, 38l behind Diamond Harry (11-7) at Newbury 2m nhf (2) sft in Mar.
Crime Dont Pay (IRE) (11-7) 2nd of 9, 3l behind Knocklayde Rose (11-7) at Toomebridge 3m ire ptp gs in Apr.
Fabian The Fox Parthian Springs gelding out of Weldcome.
Fiendish Flame (IRE) Beneficial gelding out of Deenish.
Hot Choc (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 11, 33l behind Megasue (11-0) at Fontwell 1m 6f nhf (6) gd.
Key Cutter (FR) Alderbrook gelding out of Two Roads.
Native Taipan (IRE) (12-0) 3rd of 16, 7l behind St Mellion Freeway (12-0) at Farnanes 3m ire ptp gd in May.
Paisley Cross (IRE) Fruits Of Love gelding out of Executive Ellie.
Valdas Queen (GER) 11-4fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway 5f out, ridden over 2f out, led entering final furlong, ridden out, won at Newbury 1m 4f nhf (5) gs in Dec beating Double Brandy (10-12) by 2l, 16 ran.
Waldenstroem (GER) 7-1 (11-2) Led, headed 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 12, well behind Eight Palms (10-8) at Stratford 2m nhf (6) gd in Mar.
Mangonel 40-1 (10-9) Behind, tailed off entering straight, stayed on final 2f, never dangerous, 6th of 20, 24l behind Lindeman (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f mrs nhf (4) gd in Apr.
Romance Dance 20-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden over 4f out, beaten over 1f out, 7th of 20, 7l behind Carole's Legacy (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f mrs lst nhf (1) gd in Apr.
Tarabela Kayf Tara mare out of Rocky Revival.
Kaladan (FR) Kaldoukan gelding out of Garde Aux Armes.
