mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway next, lost place before 3 out
tracked leader, jumped left 1st, led after 3 out, ridden, edged right and headed after next, led again towards finish, headed post
mid-division, stumbled and unseated rider 4th
held up towards rear, hampered 3rd, headway when not fluent next, not fluent and lost place 5th, well beaten from 3 out
led, mistake 3 out, soon headed, no extra last
held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 2nd, headway on outside 5th, challenged 2 out, soon led, headed towards finish, no extra close home
held up in rear, headway 3 out, ran on flat, led post
prominent, not fluent 5th, ridden before 3 out, no extra next
Nonrunner
A tricky-looking finale in which most have some sort of chance. My Lord beat Judiciary by a length over course and distance last month with Hi Tide back in third. But he's 8lb higher now and has disappointed on the Flat since. Bombadero was beaten in a seller at Chepstow at the start of the month but Qoubilai races off the same mark as when a close-up second at Market Rasen and should figure. MAKARI goes well fresh so a recent absence isn't a concern. Nicky Henderson's six-year-old remains unexposed and can take this with Taroum looking to be in the handicapper's grip now.
Judiciary (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, led before 2nd, clear after 3rd until before 3 out, headed approaching next, 5th and weakening when mistake at hurdle, 9th of 15, 25l behind Lovey Dovey (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Sep.
Bombadero (IRE) 11-8fav (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, closed after 7th, led before 4 out, 3 lengths clear when reached for 2 out and landed in a heap, lost momentum and headed before last, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Dark Spirit (10-2) at Chepstow 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gd.
Tangolan (IRE) 15-8fav (11-2) Held up in touch, not always fluent, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, well behind West Brit (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Sep.
My Lord 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 4th, went 2nd 3 out, led last, ridden out, won at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Sep beating Judiciary (11-2) by 1l, 11 ran.
Qoubilai (FR) 15-8 (10-12) Led, driven and headed narrowly 2 out, kept on and every chance last, ridden flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Pasture Bay (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Codoor (GER) (10-8) 4th of 16, 1 3/4l behind Hops (10-10) at Nancy(FR) 2m 3f 5yo hdl in Jun.
Hi Tide (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, stayed on same pace from last, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind My Lord (11-5) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Sep.
Taroum (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, lost place 6th, soon pushed along, closed 3 out, no impression after 2 out, 6th of 12, 18l behind Ben Cee Pee M (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf in Sep.
Makari 11-8fav (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 1st, headway before 4th, mistake next, ridden in 4th and one pace when not fluent 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 16, 20l behind Musnad (10-9) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
