tracked leaders on outside, challenged 8th, mistake 3 out, blundered and weakened 2 out, 4th when pulled up before last
tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 5th, closed 12th, led off last bend, narrow lead when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
led until 2nd, led 5th, jumped left and not fluent next, headed 7th, led 8th, headed off last bend, left in lead 4 out, clear 2 out, clambered over last, driven out
in rear, not fluent 7th, ridden before next, behind 9th, pulled up before 11th
in rear, 4th and in touch 10th, mistake 12th, soon outpaced, left 3rd 4 out, went 2nd after 2 out, unable to trouble winner and dropped to 3rd flat
led 2nd, headed 5th, led 7th, headed next, mistake 11th, soon looked in trouble, kept on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, unable to trouble winner
NonRunner
Sammy Bill is 2-2 this season over fences but another 11lb rise could scupper the hat-trick bid. Beau Bay is only a pound higher than when successful over track and trip back in January so looks a threat to all but Hollywoodien has only managed three runs since winning this as a five-year-old in 2016, though rarely finishes out of the frame. JUST DON’T ASK is also a course a distance winner and he is most consistent. He wasn’t beaten far behind a very progressive novice at Exeter earlier this month with the form being franked at Ascot on Saturday.
Pain Au Chocolat (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Chased winner until 6th, remained in 3rd until 5 out, outpaced and no chance after, left modest 3rd at the last, 3rd of 6, 22l behind Storm Control (11-8) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Hollywoodien (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Chased winner until 5 out, handy 3rd, went 2nd again before next, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 7, 7 1/4l behind Ecu De La Noverie (11-4) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Beau Bay (FR) 40-1 (10-6) Mid-division, headway from 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, no impression on winner elbow, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 14, 16l behind Hogan's Height (10-8) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Utility (GER) 66-1 (11-2) Rear-division, plugged on from 3 out, never on terms, 10th of 16, 25 1/4l behind Bennys King (11-1) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Just Don't Ask (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, tracked leaders after 5 out, challenged next, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, outpaced and no impression before last, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Espoir De Guye (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Niven (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Held up in 4th place until 5th, mistake 8th, weakened 5 out, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Ecu De La Noverie (11-4) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Sammy Bill 5-2fav (11-1) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, stayed on well, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Fixed Rate (11-12) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
