led until 1st, led 2nd, not fluent and headed 5th, led before 8th, headed before last, led again flat, headed towards finish, gamely regained lead post
led 1st until 2nd, led 5th, headed before 8th, fell 10th
prominent, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
whipped round start, reluctant and lost many lengths, behind, in touch after 5th, not fluent 7th, slightly hampered 10th, went 2nd 3 out, edged left and led before last, headed flat, led again towards finish, put head in air briefly, headed post
reluctant to race and lost many lengths, in touch 3rd, not fluent 8th or 9th, went 2nd 11th until 3 out, mistake 2 out, no extra last
held up on outside, headway 8th, lost place when not fluent next, hampered 10th, behind next, mistake 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, lost place 10th, closed before 4 out, 4th and weakening when terrible mistake 2 out
Play The Ace is in terrific form but conditions are an unknown and he’s gone up a further 5lb since completing his hat-trick at Kempton. Ballyhill has found things happening too quickly for him over 2m so the extra half-mile is in his favour. He should be a factor if handling the going but Barrys Jack still has a bit to prove over fences and Hargam finished tailed off on his first run for John Quinn at Carlisle. Katachenko won off a higher mark here last year but hasn’t raced since unseating his rider in the Topham in April. SWIFT CRUSADOR (NAP) was only headed close home on his fencing bow at Chepstow. A winning pointer, he won his sole start over hurdles on heavy going by 30 lengths and is the least exposed of these.
Play The Ace (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 6th, hampered 3 out, led before next, soon challenged, hard ridden, ran on well, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Breath Of Blighty (10-7) by 1l, 9 ran.
Ballyhill (FR) 6-4fav (11-5) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, headway on outside before 5th, close 3rd 2 out, soon ridden and beaten, 5th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Baby King (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Ravished (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Held up, no impression from 4 out, no extra approaching 2 out, 17th of 22, dist behind Lord Scoundrel (10-7) at Galway 2m 7f hcp (1) Yielding in Jul.
Katachenko (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) With leader until blundered and unseated rider 12th (canal turn), at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Swift Crusador 7-2fav (11-8) Prominent, went 2nd before 4 out, led before 3 out, ridden and headed before last, regained lead towards finish, kept on and headed close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind Itshard To No (11-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Hargam (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Mistake 1st, behind, headway into mid-division 5th, outpaced 5 out, weakened next, tailed off, 10th of 13, dist behind Mister Whitaker (10-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Barrys Jack (IRE) 15-8jfav (10-3) Held up in last, unseated rider 4th, at Sedgefield 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
