held up in mid-division, ridden along 7th, no extra before 3 out
held up and struggling after 7th
held up and behind, hit 6th, headway after 3 out, stayed on well flat nearest finish
prominent until weakened before 2 out
always behind, tailed off from 6th
chased leader, every chance 3 out, weakened 2 out
prominent, hit 6th soon weakened
chased leaders, weakened rapidly before 3 out, tailed off
led at strong pace and ridden 7th, headed before next, weakened quickly
held up in mid-division, ridden and headway before 3 out, driven to chase leaders 2 out, soon one pace and beaten
in touch, behind from 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
in touch, effort 3 out, every chance next, ridden and one paced before last
held up, effort approaching 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure
blundered 4th, always behind, tailed off from 6th
in mid-division, headway 4 out, every chance from 2 out, not quicken
held up, mistake 3 out, never near to challenge
held up in touch, not fluent 5th, effort 2 out, led last, quickened clear
held up, headway and prominent after 7, ridden and weakened before 2 out
always behind, soon ridden along and never a factor
chased leaders, weakened under pressure before 2 out
prominent, led before 3 out and mistake, hard ridden and weakened before last
behind, ridden along from 7th, stayed on under pressure before last nearest finish
held up in touch, ridden and weakened after 3 out
in mid-division, mistake 6th, soon struggling
This is a notoriously difficult race to win but Martin Pipe has a fine record in it having won three of the last nine renewals and the Pond House handler appears to have strong claims once again with nine representatives in the field of 30. They are headed by Korelo who bids to follow in the hoofsteps of former stablemate Olympian by scooping a valuable bonus for adding to a fine success in the Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday. Korelo appeared to win with plenty in hand at the Esher track and looks a worthy favourite to follow up under a 7lb penalty. Howard Johnson's Covent Garden has proved most progressive having won all five starts this term and still looks fairly treated while Quazar also comes here in fine form after picking up two of his last three starts. Jonjo O'Neill's charge looks capable of further progress so should give another good account despite a welter burden to carry. There is a strong Irish challenge headed by the lightly raced Xenophon, who won the valuable Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown last time while fellow compatriots Emotional Moment and Yeoman's Point are others to consider following profitable campaigns.
