chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd before next, stayed on flat, unable to quite challenge winner
hampered 1st, always behind, pulled up before 4 out
raced keenly, jumped left and not always fluent, led after 1st, clear briefly 7th, stayed on gamely
mid-division, closed 3rd, mistake 12th, stayed on from 3 out, went 4th 2 out, unable to get back on terms
always behind, tailed of 9th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, closed 7th, slow 11th, no impression on leaders before 2 out
towards rear after very slow 1st, headway 12th, outpaced 3 out, well held after, plugged on flat
held up in mid-division, mistake 8th, headway 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, unable to challenge, stayed on
chased leaders, lost place 7th, outpaced 14th, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, towards rear when mistake 8th, well behind from 12th
held up towards rear, ridden and struggling 12th, no impression
led until after 1st, chased winner, not fluent 2nd, hit 7th, not fluent 8th, lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened
hampered and brought down 1st
towards rear, pushed along 12th, never dangerous
Jonniesofa comes here off the back of a gallant victory at Carlisle and is only 3lb higher. Capeland was back on song over this trip at Wincanton two weeks ago while Bennys King was successful over 2m3f here last month. Acting Lass won this in 2018 and Domaine De L'Isle was successful 12 months ago but both need to improve on recent form to take a hand in the finish this year. GOOD BOY BOBBY (NAP) was possibly given too much to do when fourth in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month but he was keeping on in the closing stages and has been dropped 2lb since. He is just preferred to Windsor Avenue, third in last month’s Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby and better over this shorter distance. Dashel Drasher’s defeat of two higher-rated rivals here five weeks probably flattered him but 3m was too far for Espoir De Guye here on the same card and he should make his presence felt.
Bennys King (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, led before 9th, hit 2 out (normal 3 out) 3 lengths ahead last (normal 2 out), stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Gardefort (10-0) by 6l, 12 ran.
Capeland (FR) 6-1 (11-11) Held up, headway 5th, tracked leaders 3 out, led 2 out, kept on strongly to extend advantage run-in, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jan beating Evander (10-8) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Dashel Drasher 11-2 (11-7) Jumped well albeit out to his left on occasions, made all, clear 4 out, 10 lengths ahead at the last, tiring run-in, just lasted but unchallenged, won at Ascot 2m 5f (2) hvy in Dec beating Itchy Feet (11-7) by 2l, 3 ran.
Espoir De Guye (FR) 11-4fav (11-5) Led, reached for 6th, headed after 8th, chased winner until 12th, chased leaders, weakened after 2 out (normal 3 out), tailed off, 8th of 10, dist behind Mister Malarky (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Acting Lass (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Close up, ridden 4 out, weakened next, pulled up next, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Windsor Avenue (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) In touch, headway when left 3rd 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Canelo (11-6) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Good Boy Bobby (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, hampered 13th, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer, 4th of 17, 27 1/2l behind Chatham Street Lad (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Jerrysback (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders blundered 4 out, pushed along after next, hung right and kept on into 3rd at the last, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Regal Encore (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Jonniesofa (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Chased front pair, niggled along to lead before 4 out, ran on after 2 out, big jump last, tired on the run-in, just held on final strides, won at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Informateur (11-1) by nk, 7 ran.
Young Wolf (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Prominent early, chased leaders, went 2nd 6th until 9th, mistake 12th, lost place 5 out, soon well beaten, 6th of 8, dist behind Paint The Dream (10-11) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Domaine De L'Isle (FR) 10-3 (11-2) In rear, not fluent 6th, ridden next, went 4th 3 out, well beaten from 4 out, no chance with leaders, 4th of 9, 33 1/4l behind Henry Gondoff (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) hvy in Jan.
Touch Kick (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Chased leader, pushed along over 2f out, lost place when not much room over 1f out, well held final furlong, 7th of 8, 8 1/4l behind Just Call Me Al (11-5) at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Jan.
Colorado Doc 18-1 (11-11) Led until not fluent 4th, led next, headed 13th, not fluent 14th, lost place when pecked 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Louis' Vac Pouch (IRE) 28-1 (11-11) Towards rear, headway 11th, chasing leaders when hampered next, soon lost place, weakened 4 out, 7th of 13, 24 1/4l behind Clan Legend (11-2) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
