held up in last trio, steady headway 3 out, chased leading pair before 2 out, 2nd before last, ridden and stayed on run-in, upsides and every chance 50 yards out, no extra last strides
tracked leader, led 4th, ridden and headed between last 2, soon dropped to 3rd, no extra before last
held up in rear, plugged on into never dangerous 5th between last 2
led, raced keenly on downhill run after 2nd, headed and pecked 3rd, chased leader until before 2 out, weakened soon after, mistake last
held up in touch, headway into 4th 2 out, plugged on same pace, pressed for modest 3rd, no chance with leading duo
raced keenly, chased leading pair, jumped slowly 3rd, dropped to 4th next, weakened on long run before 2 out, tailed off
not fluent, held up in close 5th, jumped slowly 3rd, jumped slowly again and lost place 5th, rallying on outside when hit 3 out, weakened quickly on long run before next, tailed off
last pair, not fluent 2nd, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, ridden and hung right before next, tailed off
tracked leaders, tracked leading pair 3rd, 2nd before 2 out, led between last 2, strongly pressed final 50 yards, battled on gamely and found bit extra last strides
The four-year-old COEUR DE LION is getting a stone from dual winner Rather Be and that could be decisive on today’s surface. The former has come up against a couple of useful juveniles since beating a subsequent winner on his debut over timber at Wetherby while the latter drops in distance after his latest win at Huntingdon, though did score over 2m at Hereford the time before. Flat winner Scrutinise should be monitored as jockey bookings suggest he is the preferred of Tim Vaughan’s two runners. Winning pointer Accord has been placed in all three starts over timber but Nicolosio, a Listed winner in Germany, is best watched following a lengthy absence.
Rather Be (IRE) 1-2fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led 4th, clear after 3 out, idled after last, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec beating Forza Milan (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Accord (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Chased leader until pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next where left modest 3rd and hampered, 3rd of 7, 17 1/4l behind No Comment (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) gs in Nov.
Ahio (FR) 66-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up last, pushed along and outpaced soon after 3 out, weakened, mistake last, eased, tailed off, last of 4, dist behind Top Notch (11-8) at Ascot 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Altaayil (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 5th, soon well beaten, 11th of 12, dist behind Beyond Conceit (10-12) at Newbury 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Bazooka (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, pushed along before 3 out, beaten when mistake 2 out, no extra and mistake last, 4th of 13, 17 3/4l behind Casper King (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Nicolosio (IRE) (9-0) 10th of 11, 20 3/4l behind Vif Monsieur (9-0) at Krefeld 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Nov.
Scrutinise 8-1 (9-12) Held up, towards rear, headway over 1f out, edged left and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Shakopee (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Sergio (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, one pace 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 14 1/4l behind Senatus (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (6) gd in Nov.
Coeur de Lion 1-3fav (11-4) Tracked leaders on inside, pecked 2nd, 2nd after 3 out, challenged next, ridden before last where every chance, no extra run-in, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Don Bersy (10-12) at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Jan.
