close up on inside, lost place 6th, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
held up in touch, chased leaders 6th, blundered next, soon outpaced, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
held up in rear, struggling 5 out, never able to challenge, weakened and pulled up before next
tracked leader, led 2nd to 4th, pressed leader, lost place after 6th, outpaced in 4th 5 out, blundered 3 out, plugged on to dispute modest 3rd from next, no chance with front pair
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, 4 lengths down when hit 2 out, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat, not reach winner
always prominent, went 2nd after 6th, led before 4 out, 4 lengths clear last, ridden and idled flat, held on
held up in touch, outpaced 5 out, no chance with leaders before next
led to 2nd, with leader, led again 4th, ridden and headed before 4 out, soon no chance with front pair, plugged on when strongly pressed for modest 3rd from 2 out
Tom George won this in 2014 with God's Own and with Sir Valentino last year. But the latter only beat GARDE LA VICTOIRE a short-head 12 months ago and he is now 8lb worse off with Philip Hobbs' charge, who ran well in his prep race over hurdles at Auteuil last month. San Benedeto also ran well over hurdles at Kempton on his reappearance but Sam Twiston-Davies switches to Politologue, who led his stable companion and Forest Bihan over the last in a Grade 1 at Aintree in April only to crumple on landing. Ar Mad has bags of class but hasn't had much racing in the last couple of years. Vibrato Valtat won this in 2015 but then became disappointing and is having a first run for a new yard. Gino Trail is held by the selection on the form book.
Ar Mad (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Raced freely, led, clear from 3rd, reached for 6th, stumbled on landing 8th and headed, lost 2nd 4 out, chased leading pair until 3 out, kept on trying and same pace in 4th, 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Un De Sceaux (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Sir Valentino (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Soon raced in 6th, bad mistake 4th, pushed along before 3 out, soon no impression, no extra from before straight, 6th of 8, 29l behind Fox Norton (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Forest Bihan (FR) 9-2 (11-12) In rear, headway 6 out, ridden to lead last, kept on well run-in, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Simply Ned (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Garde La Victoire (FR) (10-7) 2nd of 11, 2l behind Azucardel (11-2) at Auteuil 2m 3f hcp lst sft in Oct.
San Benedeto (FR) 9-4 (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden to chase winner before last, no impression, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Old Guard (11-0) at Kempton 2m lst (1) gd in Oct.
Politologue (FR) 5-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 7th, ridden and pressed after 2 out, a narrow lead when stumbled and fell on landing side of last, at Aintree 2m (1) gd in Apr.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 16th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, behind from next, tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Menorah (11-10) at Sandown 2m 7f (1) gd in Apr.
Gino Trail (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Led, hit 8th, headed 3 out, fading before last, weakened flat, 6th of 14, 11 3/4l behind Double W's (11-1) at Aintree 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
