held up towards rear, headway after 13th, weakened 4 out
jumped right, prominent, led after 2nd, headed 13th, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway 8th, every chance flat, no impression towards finish
prominent, close 3rd when mistake 2 out, no extra flat
held up towards rear, effort 5 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure flat, took 3rd last stride
mid-division, took keen hold, headway 4th, lost place before 11th, well beaten 5 out
held up in rear, well beaten before 5 out
prominent until after 2nd, chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, mistake 3 out, ridden after 2 out, pressing front pair flat, no extra and lost 3rd last stride
held up, some headway after 13th, well beaten 5 out
held up in rear, headway on inside 11th, 2nd 4 out, carried right before 2 out, no extra flat
led until after 2nd, prominent, lost place 13th, jumped right and weakened 4 out
chased leaders, mistake 4th, challenged 11th, led 13th, hung right before 2 out, stayed on well flat, asserting towards finish
NonRunner
A high-class renewal which sees the reappearance of Step Back, lightly-raced winner of the Grade 3 bet365 Gold Cup in the spring. Last year’s winner Rock The Kasbah was second at Sandown, beaten 13 lengths, but is back on his favourite course today and 16lb better off so will probably turn the tables. Traffic Fluide landed a gamble at Cheltenham in April but can be a tricky ride and is best over trips short of 3m. Silverhow has never won beyond 2m4f and there will be no hanging about here as THOMAS PATRICK goes from the front and took to fences last season like a duck to water. He beat Step Back over course and distance in February and later won competitive handicaps at Newbury and Aintree. He’s been raised a further 9lb but looks one to follow. Brave Eagle makes his handicap debut over fences in smart company while this might be too early in the season for Coo Star Sivola. Our Kaempfer could be best of the rest but has disappointed too often in the past.
Coo Star Sivola (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along 12th, never near leaders, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Step Back (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Jumped really well, chased leaders, led 6th, made rest, 4 lengths ahead going strongly 2 out, great effort, won at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr beating Rock The Kasbah (11-0) by 13l, 20 ran.
Traffic Fluide (FR) 13-2fav (10-4) Led 1st, headed after 5th, stayed handy, outpaced before 3 out, rallied into 7 lengths 3rd last, stayed on strongly flat, led towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr beating Art Of Payroll (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Rock The Kasbah (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, pushed along before 3 out, stayed on same pace and no chance with winner from next, 2nd of 20, 13l behind Step Back (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Brave Eagle (IRE) 1-2fav (11-6) Never fluent, chased leader until after 4th, 2nd again 6th, challenged and mistake 3 out, led approaching last, driven and hung left run-in, stayed on, won at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) gd in Aug beating Jaleo (11-6) by 3/4l, 3 ran.
Captain Chaos (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Led, mistake 7th, blundered 5 out, headed after next, soon ridden, lost place 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 36 3/4l behind Terrefort (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Cobra De Mai (FR) 3-1fav (11-10) Mid-division, close up 4th, ridden and outpaced before 4 out, kept on under pressure from next, never able to challenge, 4th of 13, 7l behind Javert (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Lovely Job (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, led 7th, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 13, 9 1/4l behind Another Hero (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Bigbadjohn (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Mounted on course, always towards rear, no chance when blundered 4 out, pulled up after next, at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Our Kaempfer (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 9th, 4th and one pace 2 out, not fluent last, 4th of 8, 9 3/4l behind Brian Boranha (11-0) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Silverhow (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Jumped left 2nd and next, chased leaders, led 4th, made rest, stayed on strongly from 2 out, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr beating War Sound (11-6) by 4l, 11 ran.
The Young Master 12-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, reminders and outpaced 14th, rallied under pressure before 19th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next, 8th of 20, dist behind Step Back (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Thomas Patrick (IRE) 3-1fav (10-10) Made all, ridden and clear before last, kept on well, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Apr beating On Tour (10-8) by 4l, 16 ran.
