raced keenly, chased leaders on inside, shaken up and beaten before 2 out, weakening when hampered last
raced keenly, chased leader, edged left and led 2 out, headed before last, stumbled just after last and fell
led until 2 out, left 2nd last, stayed on, held close home
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, well beaten after 3 out, pulled up after
chased leaders, challenged 2 out, led before last, hung left flat, ridden out
held up in touch, took keen hold, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 2 out, no impression and well held when slightly hampered last
held up towards rear, headway on outside before 4 out, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up rear of mid-division, weakened before 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway before 2 out, no impression, left 3rd last
Fearless may have come up against a decent novice when failing to land the odds at Fontwell and, though carrying a penalty again here, has experience on his side. Aronius placed in Listed company on the level in Germany and Protected Guest also won on the Flat. Captain Morgs and Striking A Pose are both likely to improve on their bumper form now hurdling but ADDIS ABABA ran well in a hot race at Newbury in February and further progress this term should seem him off the mark with Annual Invictus unlikely to be suited by a drop in trip.
Fearless (IRE) 4-5fav (11-5) Led, pressed from 2 out, ridden and headed when mistake last, held flat, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Lord Baddesley (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) sft in Oct.
Addis Ababa (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway on inside approaching 3 out, kept on in 3rd run-in, never any chance with winner, 3rd of 15, 8 1/2l behind Chantry House (11-8) at Newbury 2m (3) gd in Feb.
Annual Invictus (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) Led 2nd, joined 3 out, ridden and headed before next where lost 2nd, weakened between last 2, 5th of 13, 12 1/4l behind Full Back (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Aronius (GER) 28-1 (9-2) 4th of 7, 12l behind Royal Youmzain (9-2) at Baden-Baden 1m 2f Grp 3 gs in Jun.
Captain Morgs (IRE) Evensfav (11-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced 2f out, edged right and rallied inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Conceroe (11-0) at Warwick 2m (5) gd in Oct.
Frero Banbou (FR) (10-10) won at Auteuil 2m 1f sft in Apr beating Forland (10-10) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Grisbi De Berce (FR) 25-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, took keen hold., headway over 3f out, hanging badly right from over 2f out, very hard to ride and eased, 7th of 12, 24l behind Boothill (11-2) at Kempton 2m (5) gs in Feb.
Protected Guest 33-1 (9-12) In rear, pushed along 2f out, never near leaders, 7th of 11, 7 3/4l behind Glen Force (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Sopran Thor (FR) 50-1 (11-2) Led early, prominent, went 2nd 4f out until over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 15, 32l behind Bear Ghylls (11-2) at Warwick 2m (5) sft in Mar.
Striking A Pose (IRE) 3-1fav (10-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost place next, outpaced 4 out, kept on before 2 out, left 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 15 3/4l behind Press Your Luck (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) gs in Oct.
