held up in rear, not fluent 3 out, steady headway 2 out, held every chance last, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden 2 out, no extra before last
chased leader, pushed along before 2 out, headway before last, kept on well run in, just denied
mid-division, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace towards finish
in rear, ridden 2 out, steady headway before last, kept on run-in, no match for leaders
made all, ridden 2 out, 1 length clear last, faced strong challenge run in, all out, just held on
close up, jumped left throughout, ridden 3 out, no impression from 2 out
BEFORE MIDNIGHT continued his good progress when scoring at Cheltenham on his reappearance. He’s upped a further 8lb but beat Sky Pirate six lengths and can continue winning ways. Jonjo O’Neill’s charge can finish closer to the selection today having beaten Amoola Gold on a couple of occasions early in the year and the latter denied Monsieur Lecoq by only a neck over track and trip last time. Sully D'Oc Aa ran below par behind the former pair here but is better than that and looks best of the rest.
Sky Pirate 3-1 (11-12) Mid-division, closed 6th, mistake 8th, chased winner 2 out, no impression flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Before Midnight (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Dolos (FR) 12-1 (11-11) Mid-division, not fluent 5 out, soon beaten, 8th of 9, dist behind Paint The Dream (11-1) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Amoola Gold (GER) 12-1 (11-9) Patiently ridden in rear, steady headway out wide 3 out, closer in 4th before next, driven between last two, left 3rd at the last, strong run to lead final strides, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Oct beating Monsieur Lecoq (10-9) by hd, 10 ran.
Diego Du Charmil (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Raced in mid-division, travelled strongly and ridden after 3 out, mistake at 2 out, weakened, 9th of 12, 24 1/4l behind Glory And Fortune (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Sully D'Oc Aa (FR) 15-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, ridden and no extra in 4th after 3 out, weakened into 5th before next, 5th of 10, 22 3/4l behind Amoola Gold (11-9) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
Before Midnight 2-1fav (10-3) Jumped well, made all, drew clear flat, stayed on strongly, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Sky Pirate (11-12) by 6l, 7 ran.
Monsieur Lecoq (FR) 11-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 8th, went 2nd next, led before last, clear when idled badly and caught final strides, 2nd of 10, hd behind Amoola Gold (11-9) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
