held up, headway 3 out, chasing leaders last, weakened flat
held up, headway after 8th, led 2 out, headed last, no extra final 100 yards
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, not clear run before last, went 2nd flat, ran on well to lead final 100 yards
led until after 1st, chased leaders, not fluent 5th, closed before 4 out, lost place before next
held up well in rear, closing when badly hampered 4 out, behind until closed after 2 out, challenged last, soon led, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards
held up towards rear, headway after 8th, every chance out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, led 2nd, not fluent and headed 5th, ridden and losing place when fell 4 out
held up, not fluent 3rd, mistake 6th, headway 4 out, led last, soon headed, weakened final 150 yards
held up towards rear, headway and in touch when brought down 4 out
chased leaders, closed 4 out, outpaced and no impression from 2 out
led after 1st, headed next, led again 5th, headed 2 out, weakened flat
Nonrunner
Five-year-olds have struggled in this in the past which doesn't bode well for David Pipe's pair Willem and Saint John Henry, though the latter did prove hard to beat when last term when completing. Mijhaar proved hard to place last season and could do with some help from the handicapper. Softer going might have suited the mare Dark Spirit, who is still 19lb higher than for her last win, but Kilfinichen Bay has had a terrific summer and bids for a five-timer. MR SHANTU has won back-to-back races at Worcester and Warwick. He beat King Boru six lengths in the latter and, though 7lb worse off, Patrick Cowley again claims 7lb so a hat-trick could be on the cards. Polamco could also figure if back on song.
Kilfinichen Bay (IRE) 7-2fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, led before 2 out, ridden before last, just held on close home, won at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Princeton Royale (11-2) by ns, 7 ran.
Mijhaar 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, one pace when not much room next, ridden and kept on flat, no impression, 5th of 21, 6 1/2l behind Theinval (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Dark Spirit (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Behind, outpaced after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on from last, never near leaders, 7th of 15, 15 1/4l behind Glens Melody (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gs in Mar.
On The Bridge (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Led, pushed along after 4 out, headed before 2 out, rallied and every chance flat, held close home, 3rd of 7, 1/2l behind Milan Bound (10-13) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Mr Shantu (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, headway from 8th, challenging when mistake 2 out, led before last, edged left and ridden clear flat, won at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating King Boru (11-12) by 6l, 13 ran.
Willem (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leader until 2 out, soon outpaced, ridden and kept on run-in, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Miss Macnamara (10-6) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Saint John Henry (FR) 5-2fav (11-6) Made most until before 8th, just beginning to lose place when fell at hurdle, at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Polamco (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) In touch, left in lead after 6th, headed 8th, outpaced when not fluent 2 out, weakened before last, 12th of 19, dist behind Roll On Ruby (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
King Boru (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Chased leaders, lost place 4th, in touch again 7th, ridden before next, challenged 3 out, led next, headed before last, one pace, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Mr Shantu (11-12) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Fighter Jet 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner after 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure in clear 2nd before last, no impression, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Minnie Milan (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
My Lad Percy 17-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 5 out, at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Mawaqeet (USA) 11-4fav (11-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, ridden after 3 out, 3rd and one pace before next, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 7, 12 1/2l behind Oh Land Abloom (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
