led until approaching 1st, chased leader and clear of rest, ridden and hanging left when lost 2nd approaching 2 out, continued to hang left, 4th and beaten when went left and mistake last, modest 3rd run-in
held up off the pace disputing 5th, not fluent 4th, headway on inside tracking leaders after 3 out, 3rd 2 out, soon switched right, driven between last two, 2nd approaching the last, stayed on same pace run-in
raced keenly, held up well off the pace in last pair, hit 2nd, pushed along and beaten when slightly hampered 3 out
held up off the pace in 4th, pushed along before 3 out, edged left and outpaced 2 out, modest 4th run-in
led approaching 1st, set strong pace and soon clear with rival, reduced lead 4 out, ridden and headed between last two, dropped to 3rd and no extra when mistake last, weakened run-in
took keen hold, tracked clear leading pair, closed steadily 4 out, 2nd approaching 2 out, led between last two, hit last, ridden and stayed on strongly to go clear run-in
held up off the pace disputing 5th, mistake 3rd, weakened before 3 out, soon behind and eased
held up well off the pace in rear, some headway into 6th, when fell heavily 3 out
Several unknown quantities bid to stake a claim for stardom in this Grade 1. Robin Roe could not have been more impressive in a maiden at Aintree and beat Laser Light, second to Elegant Escape at Ascot, in a point at Boulta last year. Baltazar D'allier was an equally impressive winner of a maiden at Naas, though neither the second nor third have franked that form. Ami Desbois has been thriving over further but MESSIRE DES OBEAUX beat Cultivator in a Grade 2 last time at Sandown over this trip and can complete the hat-trick. A line through sixth Kabanga Bay gives him the beating of Peak To Peak and Major Mac looks out of his depth.
Ami Desbois (FR) 10-1 (11-5) Led, driven and headed before last, every chance flat, stayed on, held final 75 yards, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Wholestone (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Baltazar D'allier (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, headway to dispute lead 4 out, led entering straight, slight mistake 2 out, soon pushed along and went clear, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Naas 2m 3f mdn Yielding - Soft in Nov beating Mighty Stowaway (11-12) by 6l, 23 ran.
Cultivator 12-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, ridden in 5th after 3 out, rallied travelling well to lead before and hit 2 out, ridden approaching last, headed inside final 150 yards, no extra in 3rd 100 yards out, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Messire Des Obeaux (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) gs in Dec.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, hit 6th, led before 2 out, ridden and briefly headed run-in, soon in front again and in command towards finish, gamely, won at Ascot 2m 6f (2) gs in Nov beating Laser Light (11-3) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Major Mac 9-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway travelling well enough after 3 out, weakened before next, hit last, 6th of 12, 17 1/2l behind Limited Reserve (10-5) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Messire Des Obeaux (FR) 9-4 (11-7) Raced keenly, tracked leaders on inside, 3rd before not fluent 2 out, driven and one pace between last 2, rallied last, 2nd run-in, stayed on gamely to lead inside final 150 yards, held on, won at Sandown 2m 4f (1) gs in Dec beating Ballyandy (11-0) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Peak To Peak (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led narrowly after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on well from last, won at Fontwell 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Nov beating Clondaw Bisto (11-0) by 2l, 14 ran.
Robin Roe (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, led last, stayed on strongly and came clear flat, easily, won at Aintree 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Oct beating No Comment (11-0) by 12l, 9 ran.
