French import Robin De Sherwood has to be of interest on his debut for Paul Nicholls but lack of a run in the UK and only having had two career starts makes him difficult to evaluate and preference is for Paradi, who gets the vote over Top The Charts. The last mentioned has a nice racing weight and represents the yard of Tony Martin that has had great success with their raiders in recent weeks. Leading Contender ran a race full of promise behind stable companion From Dawn To Dusk here last month and has to be respected on that evidence, while Mendo is less exposed than most but lacks a recent run and Noel Chance's yard has yet to hit top gear. Alan King's Rustarix showed promise last term but needs to improve to trouble the judge, while it is to be hoped that Nicky Henderson's La Dame Brune is none the worse for her tumble last time. The vote then goes to Paradi, who lacks a run this term but the Pipe stable is more than capable of getting a horse ready, especially for this meeting and he looks worth chancing.
Robin De Sherwood (FR) (10-3) Held up, headway 3 out, soon no extra, 4th of 10, 9l behind Ecos De L'orme (10-6) at Auteuil 2m 1f hdl sft in May '06.
Leading Contender (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, steady headway 6th, chasing leaders with hit 4 out, no impression approaching last, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind From Dawn To Dusk (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Rio De Janeiro (IRE) 10-1 (10-1) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, headway next, stayed on flat, 4th of 16, 2 1/2l behind Kanad (9-7) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl (2) gf.
The Sliotar (IRE) 5-4fav (11-5) Led to 2nd, with leader, led again 7th, clear 2 out, comfortably, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Oct beating Harry Wood (10-12) by 10l, 16 ran.
Paradi (FR) 2-1jt-fav (11-4) Made virtually all, strongly pressed last, driven and held on gamely run-in, won at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb beating Lester Leaps In (10-12) by a nk, 7 ran.
Hereditary 9-2 (11-8) Held up, reminders after 6th,mistake 7th, behind from next, tailed off, 11th of 18, well behind Jungleland (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gs in Mar.
La Dame Brune (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Prominent when fell at the 3rd in race won by Eden Linty (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl (2) gd, 10 ran.
At The Money 85-40 (10-12) Led, headed 2nd, led again 3 out, clear 2 out, kept on, won at Warwick 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Billy Murphy (10-7) by 21l, 10 ran.
Mendo 8-13fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, chased leader after 6th, ridden after next, stayed on run-in, led close home, won at Ascot 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd in Mar beating Modicum (11-1) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Sobers (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 7th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 14, 11l behind Don't Push It (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Counting House (IRE) 5-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 6th, led 3 out, in command from next, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gf beating Armenian Boy (11-4) by 8l, 6 ran.
Boss Imperial (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Led until ridden 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 12, 14l behind Kanad (11-5) at Worcester 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Portland Bill (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, closed to lead after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 14l behind Mac Federal (10-10) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Go Free 7-2jt-fav (11-6) Held up, headway after 9th, 6th, in touch and going well when brought down 3 out in race won by Herne Bay (11-8) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sept, 13 ran.
Khasab (IRE) 5-1fav (10-4) Held up towards rear, good headway after 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on, 3rd of 17, 4l behind Mill House Girl (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Vale Of Avocia (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 16th of 18, 31l behind Total Victory (10-8) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-123 gd in Oct.
Hot Port (IRE) 11-2fav (11-4) Chased leaders, 7th 4 out, ridden and no impression from before 2 out, kept on from, 5th of 18, 10l behind Total Victory (10-8) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-123 gd in Oct.
Court Ruler 20-1 (10-0) Always in rear, 9th of 14, 24l behind Don't Push It (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Pocket Too 11-2 (11-7) Mid-division until weakened after 6th, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind Lord Lington (11-9) at N Abbot 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Aug.
Rustarix (FR) 14-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 9l behind My Turn Now (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Im Spartacus 15-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, stayed on from 2 out, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 12, 9l behind From Dawn To Dusk (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Rajeh (IRE) 13-2 (10-9) Keen hold, held up towards rear, steady headway from 4th, chased leaders approaching 2 out, challenged last, kept on flat, 2nd of 14, nk behind Platin Grounds (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct.
Dancing Lyra 50-1 (9-11) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 22, 3l behind Kings Quay (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Top The Charts 4-6fav (11-12) Held up, 5th halfway, 3rd and headway after 4 out, led travelling well after 2 out, driven clear from last, easily, won at Down Royal 2m hdl gd in Aug beating English City (11-7) by 6l, 7 ran.
