mid-division, headway 7th, beaten when mistake last
held up in touch, pushed along approaching 3 out, edged left before 2 out, weakened flat
prominent, not fluent 7th, shuffled back before 3 out, rallied 2 out, kept on flat
in rear, hit 4th, mistake 6th, never nearer
chased leader to 3rd, hit next, ridden before 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged last, every chance flat, no extra towards finish
held up in touch, chasing leaders approaching last, one pace flat
held up, struggling approaching 3 out
held up in rear, never nearer
always prominent, went 2nd 3rd, led approaching 3 out, stayed on well under pressure flat
held up mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, never reached leaders
led until ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up in touch, mistake 5th, jumped slowly next, mistake 3 out, not clear run and switched left approaching 2 out, weakened before last
always behind
held up in touch, went 2nd 3 out to 2 out, not fluent last, weakened
held up, some headway 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened last
soon in touch, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last, dismounted
held up, not fluent 2nd, ridden and no real headway approaching 3 out
mid-division, headway on inside after 5th, blundered 8th, soon weakened
held up, headway approaching 2 out, kept on flat, nearest finish
Any number to consider here but we'll focus on Kingscape, County Zen and Gustavo. We'll take a chance with County Zen. James Fanshawe had a strong candidate for this race in Song Of Songs and it looks significant that connections have decided to rely on Kingscape. A fair Flat handicapper, he showed ability on his debut behind Group Captain before disappointing but he won authoritatively at Stratford last time. He's unexposed and could be on a decent mark but we're prepared to take him on. Gustavo has shot up in the weights following a string of successes in the past two seasons. He's been held on his last two starts at around three miles but stamina may have played as big a part in his defeats as the handicapper and the trainer has opted not to call on the services of her talented conditional. He could go well at a price. County Zen was backed into favouritism for the Coral Cup but failed to run his race. His yard is in better form now than it was at the time, he's only 4lbs higher than he was when third to Wingman at Newbury and has scope for further improvement at this trip. County Zen has the class to put the record straight.
Trouble At Bay (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, lost place 3 out, rallied under pressure 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well flat, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar beating Border Castle (11-1) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Junior 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 6th, led before last, hung left flat, hung right and headed close home, no extra, 3rd of 24, 1 1/2l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Ring The Boss (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, not fluent 8th, headway next, beaten before 3 out, 8th of 14, 38l behind Tidal Bay (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Sporazene (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Mid-division, hampered after 2nd, badly hampered and lost place 6th, no chance after, 19th of 24, 50l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
County Zen (FR) 11-2fav (11-3) Held up in rear, hampered 6th, struggling 3 out, 18th of 24, 48l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
I'm So Lucky 2-1fav (12-5) Led, driven before 3 out, headed final 100 yards, no extra, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Distiller (10-5) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Shatabdi (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, weakened under pressure after 2 out, 10th of 13, 34l behind Whiteoak (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Mar.
Peacock (FR) 10-1 (10-13) Held up and behind, hampered 6th, stayed on approaching last, never nearer, 8th of 24, 14l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Double Vodka (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Always mid-divison, 9th of 22, 17l behind Ashkazar (10-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) In touch when fell at the 4th in race won by Punchestowns (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd in Mar, 16 ran.
Gustavo 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 8th, ridden 3 out, edged left, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 15, 17l behind Wind Instrument (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Glacial Sunset (IRE) 100-1 (10-4) Led, ridden 3 out, soon headed, weakened before 2 out, 14th of 24, well behind Ballyfitz (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Palomar (USA) 20-1 (10-8) Mid-divison, hampered, lost place after 3 out, soon ridden, switched left approaching last, stayed on, 6th of 22, 13l behind Ashkazar (10-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Mohayer (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) In touch, chasing leaders after 2 out, weakened before last, 14th of 22, 17l behind Silver Jaro (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Tot O'Whiskey 20-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon headed and ridden, kept on, 3rd of 17, 4 1/2l behind Beshabar (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Prince Ary 33-1 (10-10) Chased leader, ridden, every chance after 3 out, weakened next, 15th of 22, 27l behind Ashkazar (10-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Kingscape (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Held up in touch, challenged after 5th, led on bit 2 out, easily, won at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Poliglotti (11-1) by 7l, 14 ran.
Mister Benedictine 16-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, every chance approaching last, weakened flat, 4th of 10, 10l behind Trouble At Bay (11-5) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
Hi Dancer 11-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 21l behind Storymaker (10-8) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
Gabier 100-1 (10-0) Mid-division, losing ground when squeezed up on bend approaching 3 out, soon behind, 20th of 24, well behind Wingman (10-0) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Pacha D'Oudairies (FR) 2-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 3 out, challenged after, quickened to lead approaching 2 out, kept on well, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gd in Feb beating Ocean du Moulin (11-9) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Annie's Answer (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway approaching 3rd, hampered 5th, soon lost place, no danger after, 7th of 13, 13l behind Whiteoak (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Mar.
