mistake 1st, chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced after 13th, weakened before 4 out
badly hampered 1st, behind, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 14th
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 13th, ridden and weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, injured and pulled up before 12th
chased leader, led 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, chased leader, driven betwwen last two, stayed on and every chance run-in, one pace in 3rd final 100 yards
held up towards rear, pushed along in 5th on inside after 3 out, went 4th 2 out, ridden and weakened between last two
hampered 1st, towards rear, struggling in last pair 3 out, never involved
chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced after 13th, weakened before 14th
chased leading pair, every chance when went right and slightly impeded 3 out, soon pushed along and one pace, weakened 2 out
raced wide and well off the pace towards rear, pushed along before 14th, 7th and plenty to do before 2 out, stayed on after 2 out, driven in 4th between last two, stayed on strongly run-in to lead final 100 yards
led until 4th, chased leader, led approaching 2 out, clear when slightly hampered approaching the last and lost momentum, headed and outpaced final 100 yards
hampered 1st, towards rear, tailed off 12th, mistake 15th, pulled up before 2 out
tracking leaders, fell 1st
hampered 1st, held up towards rear, steady headway tracking leaders 13th, 3rd before 2 out, ridden between last two, every chance after last, no extra in 4th final 100 yards
After a long absence, Eduard ran a cracker behind Royal Regatta at Newbury but steps into unknown territory over this longer trip. A runner-up over 2m5f here last month, Go Conquer will also have his stamina to prove but Minella Daddy won over this course and distance after scoring at Ffos Las and should make a bold bid to complete the hat-trick. Le Mercurey should appreciate this slight drop in class after placed efforts at Down Royal and Aintree and he’s preferred to stablemate Irish Saint but Fletchers Flyer is interesting, despite having his first run of the campaign, as he won a tough handicap at the Punchestown Festival in April. THE DRUIDS NEPHEW also makes his reappearance but he’s been dropped 5lb since finishing fifth in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in the spring. He’s only a couple of pounds higher than for his last win and has gone well fresh in the past so gets the nod.
Annacotty (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Mid-division but in touch, slow and lost place 9th, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Holywell (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) In touch in mid-division, not fluent 13th, weakened soon after, behind and struggling 4 out, tailed off, 13th of 19, dist behind Native River (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Le Mercurey (FR) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked winner until 2 out, left 2nd again last, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Many Clouds (11-10) at Aintree 3m 1f lst (1) gs in Dec.
Eduard (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Tracked winner until not fluent 11th, chased leading pair until 13th, chased leading trio, pushed along and outpaced before 2 out, kept on again run-in, not quite pace to get involved, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Royal Regatta (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 15-2 (10-11) Led until after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 8, 18l behind Voix D'eau (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Irish Saint (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, tracked leaders before 3 out, outpaced after next, no impression between last 2, 5th of 13, 23l behind Anteros (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
The Druids Nephew (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, not fluent 18th (water), headway approaching 3 out, mistake and outpaced 2 out, plugged on again run-in, 5th of 20, 7 1/2l behind The Young Master (11-1) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Triolo D'Alene (FR) 25-1 (10-10) Towards rear when blundered badly and rider lost iron briefly 1st, towards rear and never on terms after, 12th of 19, 27 1/4l behind Native River (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Fletchers Flyer (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Soon chased leaders, led and disputed from 4th, ridden in 2nd 2 out, stayed on to lead last, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Punchestown 3m 6f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr beating Forever Gold (9-11) by 2 1/2l, 17 ran.
Regal Encore (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, bumped 2nd, hampered 15th, badly hampered 5 out, soon pulled up, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Dec.
Minella Daddy (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) Chased leader, led approaching 15th, clear when shaken up between last 2, great jump last, came further clear, stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Tinker Time (11-11) by 7l, 13 ran.
Fourth Act (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Mid-division, blundered and lost place 10th, headway 13th, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 17, 5 1/2l behind Viconte Du Noyer (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Go Conquer (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Led until 7th, chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden between last 2, rallied and every chance as winner idled 100 yards out, no extra last strides, 2nd of 7, nk behind Present Man (11-6) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Another Hero (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Behind, kept on under pressure from 3 out, never reached leaders, 6th of 16, 17 1/2l behind Potters Cross (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
