not much room, chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, every chance 2 out, 3rd and held before last, kept on
mid-division, blundered 2nd, outpaced when hampered 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent next, always behind, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up
held up in mid-division, outpaced 3 out, no impression
chased leader who was clear 2nd, lost 2nd before 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway into about 4 lengths 4th when fell 3 out
always towards rear, well behind before 3 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, headway when hampered 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, pressing winner when out-jumped last, held flat, stayed on
jumped right 1st, led, clear before 2nd until before 3 out where not fluent, headed and not fluent 2 out, no extra
prominent until 1st, chased leaders, weakened quickly after 4th, well behind before 3 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, headway from 4th, led before 2 out, driven out flat
NonRunner
Cabot Cliffs has to concede weight all round but was a tough front-runner last season and managed to win three times. However, he did finish behind Elham Valley in the Boodles at Cheltenham in March and Fergal O’Brien’s charge would be a threat to all on that form. Casa Loupi has yet to run a bad race over timber but is handicapped accordingly. Caldwell beat Progressive in a valuable handicap at Musselburgh in the spring but the runner-up, who had a run on the Flat last month, is now 11lb better off. HELL RED won by 12 lengths at this meeting last year and found some form again at the end of last season. He was behind Elham Valley at Cheltenham but travelled strongly for a long way and his yard has an outstanding success rate in this race, which has probably been the target for a while. Herbiers did nothing but improve last season but is 8lb higher than when scoring at Sandown in April.
Cabot Cliffs (IRE) 8-13fav (11-12) Led, pushed along and headed 2 out, rallied flat, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Grisbi De Berce (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Apr.
Casa Loupi 2-5fav (11-1) Led, shaken up before 2 out, extended lead between flights, good jump last, ran on flat, easily, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gd in Apr beating Confirmation Bias (11-6) by 15l, 6 ran.
Herbiers (FR) 15-2 (10-8) Held up towards rear, smooth headway before 2 out, went 2nd between last 2, led last, edged left and stayed on strongly run-in, won at Sandown 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Flic Ou Voyou (11-12) by 3l, 14 ran.
Hell Red (FR) 2-5fav (11-0) Made all, ridden after 2 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) gd in Apr beating Celestial Force (11-12) by 6l, 11 ran.
Tinnahalla (IRE) 1-6fav (10-13) Made all, not fluent 3 put, clear and ridden flat, stayed on, won at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Apr beating The Wrekin (10-12) by 3 1/4l, 8 ran.
Megan (GER) 11-4 (10-12) Chased leaders, lost place 3 out, eased and pulled up before next, at Doncaster 2m 1f lst fll (1) sft in Jan.
Caldwell 7-1 (10-13) Made all, prominent early stages then clear lead after the 3rd, jumped left on occasion, upped tempo after 2 out, not fluent last, pushed out run-in, easy, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gs in Mar beating Progressive (11-7) by 6 1/2l, 9 ran.
Pyramid Place (IRE) 40-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, never involved, 8th of 14, 13l behind Herbiers (11-4) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gd in Mar.
State Crown (IRE) 5-1 (10-1) Made all, not fluent 4th, eight lengths clear at halfway, eight lengths clear 2 out, kept on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Aug beating Solstalla (10-4) by 10l, 4 ran.
Orchestral Rain (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, went 2nd after 3 out, led before 2 out, headed approaching last, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 5, 4 1/4l behind Dalileo (11-1) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Progressive 33-1 (9-11) Close up, pushed along 4f out, lost place over 2f out, 6th of 8, 5 1/4l behind Jasmine Joy (9-7) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp fll (4) gd in Sep.
Elham Valley (FR) 8-1 (9-9) Soon towards rear, going ok 4f out, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 15 1/4l behind Call My Bluff (9-11) at Nottingham 2m hcp (5) gs in May.
