held up towards rear, headway from 4th, ridden after 4 out, led next, joined when fell 2 out
led until after 2nd, stayed prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, left 2nd when hampered 2 out, hung left flat, stayed on, not able to challenge winner
chased leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 3rd, lost place 7th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, led after 2nd, headed 3 out, weakening when blundered and hampered 2 out, finished tired
held up, not fluent 3rd, lost place 5th, mistake next, behind 7th, pulled up before 3 out
held up and behind, not fluent 2nd, headway 4 out, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, edged right and upsides when left in lead 2 out, driven out flat
prominent, ridden after 4 out, slightly outpaced before 3 out, left 3rd 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear on outside, not fluent 3rd, headway 7th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before next
Withdrawn
NonRunner
Breaking Bits won easily at Carlisle on Thursday but that form may not amount to much. Phangio won over fences last month but hasn’t won over hurdles in almost two years. Whatthebutlersaw was successful over course and distance last time and is only 5lb higher while the longer distance shouldn’t pose a problem for Beau Du Brizais, though he’s been doing his best work at Taunton. MCKENZIE’S FRIEND has raced mainly on soft or heavy ground to date but he was second in a bumper on good going and recent rain is in his favour. He is also blinkered for the first time and potentially well treated at present. Royal Supremo isn’t out of this either on his latest third at Huntingdon.
Beau Du Brizais (FR) 6-4fav (11-8) Keen, tracked leaders, not much room on inside bend after 5th, challenged last, ridden to lead and hung left run-in, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gf in Apr beating Volpone Jelois (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Royal Supremo (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway to chase front pair after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 9, 4 3/4l behind Midnight Monty (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
McKenzie's Friend (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Tracked leader from 2nd, led 7th, headed before 2 out, no extra inside final 100 yards, 5th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Persian Delight (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Western Miller (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Led until after 3 out, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 20 3/4l behind Parish Business (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Cup Of Ambition (IRE) 18-1 (11-8) In touch on outer, lost place 4th, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, in touch in 3rd when hampered and unseated rider next, at Kempton 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Whatthebutlersaw (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Patiently ridden, held up in last trio, good headway into 3rd 3 out, went 2nd between last 2, crossed last, soon ridden to challenge, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Apr beating Dragon De La Tour (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Phangio (USA) 11-8fav (11-4) Pressed leader, led 5 out, not fluent next, clear when went left 3 out, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp (5) gf in Apr beating Trafalgar (10-10) by 23l, 5 ran.
Kitegen (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Towards rear, ridden and struggling after 7th, well beaten 4 out, 13th of 15, dist behind Diamond Fort (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Becauseshesaidso (IRE) 8-1 (12-1) Prominent, keen, mistake 1st, led next, headed 5th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 10, 15 1/4l behind Petite Power (11-8) at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Breaking Bits (IRE) 11-8fav (10-7) Made all, good jump and in command 2 out, ridden between last 2, kept on well, unchallenged, won at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in May beating Lowcarr Motion (10-4) by 8l, 3 ran.
