held up towards rear, last when jumped left 5th and given reminder, well beaten 4 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, driven after 4 out, well beaten before 2 out
mid-division, shaken up 4 out, never threatened, well beaten 2 out
prominent, every chance 4 out, not quicken after 2 out, ran on final 75 yards
held up in mid-division, headway on outside 5th, lost place before 4 out, soon behind, pulled up before last
chased leaders, lost a few places from 5th, ridden 3 out, jumped left last, ran on flat
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, driven 3 out, no impression next
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th or 4 out, went 2nd when mistake last, ran on, not trouble winner
mid-division, not fluent 5th, effort when hit 3 out, 4th last, not quicken flat
led until 4 out, winner went for home 2 out, lost 2nd last, kept on
held up in rear, headway on outside 7th, led 4 out, went clear after 2 out, edged left before last and flat, driven out
mid-division on inside, well beaten from 3 out, tailed off
in touch in mid-division, mistake 2nd, weakened before 4 out
prominent, hit 2 out, unable to quicken, mistake last, kept on final 75 yards
held up in rear, headway 2 out, ran on flat, never nearer
held up towards rear, well beaten after 4 out
tracked leaders, weakened from 2 out
held up, took keen hold, well beaten 4 out, tailed off
Court Minstrel won this in 2015 and also last year when 11lb higher. Isobel Williams claims 7lb but recent form suggests Evan Williams’ 11-year-old is on the downgrade nowadays. River Frost is a pound higher than when fifth last year but goes well fresh so goes on the short-list. Theclockisticking started favourite for a Listed handicap at Market Rasen last month but never looked like catching the winner. The return to a longer trip is in his favour, however, and he shouldn’t be far away. Captain Cattistock won on his only previous run in a handicap but has something to find with Theclockisticking on Cheltenham running in April. LE PATRIOTE (NAP) weakened quickly and was pulled up in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March. That wasn’t his true running as he’d impressed over this trip at Ascot the time before and still has scope for further improvement. Whatmore did well last season but this longer distance appears to stretch his stamina.
Golden Birthday (FR) 13-2 (11-11) Mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, never a threat, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Louis' Vac Pouch (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Towards rear, pushed along 4 out, soon weakened, 17th of 20, dist behind Mr Big Shot (11-5) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
River Frost 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division on outside, outpaced before 2 out, never on terms, weakened last, 15th of 26, 21 1/4l behind Bleu Berry (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Captain Cattistock 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, challenged after 2 out, every chance when bad mistake last, not recover, kept on, 4th of 14, 4 1/4l behind Diese Des Bieffes (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Apr.
Dashing Oscar (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Led until 1st, led 4th, not fluent and headed 6th, lost place before 2 out, 5th and well beaten when mistake last, 5th of 6, 23l behind Mister Miyagi (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (3) gd in May.
Theclockisticking (IRE) 11-4fav (10-11) Towards rear, ridden before 4th, headway on outside before 2 out, no impression on winner, took 2nd close home, 2nd of 12, 11l behind Caius Marcius (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Sep.
Azzerti (FR) 11-8fav (10-12) Held up in rear but in touch, under pressure 4 out, never a factor, 4th of 5, 10 3/4l behind Duke Street (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f (3) gd in Jun.
Point Of Principle (IRE) 5-2fav (11-6) Chased leaders, weakened 3 out, 5th of 13, 14 3/4l behind Molineaux (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) sft in Apr.
Le Patriote (FR) 7-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, not much room after 3 out, weakened before mistake 2 out, pulled up before last, at Sandown 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Whatmore 11-8 (11-12) Tracked clear leader, took closer order 5 out, led approaching 3 out, driven clear after next, ran on strongly, won at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Mar beating Higgs (11-0) by 10l, 8 ran.
Garo De Juilley (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Well off the pace in rear division, headway from 2 out, kept on run-in, nearest finish, 4th of 10, 7 1/2l behind Phoenix Dawn (10-9) at Plumpton 2m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Sneaky Feeling (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, held up in 5th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next, eased, last of 7, dist behind Bags Groove (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Chic Name (FR) 17-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, every chance 2 out, led before last, hard ridden, all out, won at Perth 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Apr beating Lac Sacre (10-5) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Dans Le Vent (FR) 66-1 (11-4) Prominent, led after 1st, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened last, 6th of 13, 21 1/2l behind Santini (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Court Minstrel (IRE) 8-1 (12-2) Held up in rear, struggling 4 out, never threatened, weakened before 2 out, last of 7, 29 1/4l behind Passing Call (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Master Dancer 40-1 (9-2) Mid-division, keen, chased leaders after 4f, weakened over 3f out, last of 9, 32 3/4l behind Vis A Vis (9-9) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Aug.
Castafiore (USA) 9-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace last, 6th of 13, at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Zalvados (FR) 5-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, 2nd after 3 out, every chance when mistake last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Gumball (11-5) at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Apr.
