led, headed before 12th, blundered 5 out, outpaced from next
held up towards rear, reminders before 6 out, went 4th from 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, led before 12th, ridden headed before 3 out, soon left in lead and hampered, headed 2 out, weakened last
held up mid-division, headway after 5 out, left 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, driven out
held up in rear, outpaced 11th, headway before 4 out, went 3rd from 2 out, chased winner from last, kept on and held towards finish
always towards rear, pulled up
with leaders, weakened from 11th, tailed off
held up mid-division, headway before 11th, led before and fell 3 out
chased leaders, hampered 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, pushed along before 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 6 out
Venetia Williams won this last year and ROYAL PALLADIUM can follow suit. The grey completed a hat trick around this time a year ago and not surprisingly shot up the weights but he reappeared with a fine run in a Wincanton Listed contest two weeks ago and a 6lb rise does not look excessive. Vieux Lion Rouge did very well over hurdles and scored in his first two races over the bigger obstacles earlier this summer. He looks a young chaser to follow and it will be a surprise if he is not in the mix. Straidnahanna returned to action after a break with a good run at Kelso which will have put him right for this and his stablemate No Planning won a tough handicap over hurdles here in May and has also scored over fences on the track. Toby Lerone will relish the conditions as he won easily at Lingfield last December and proved his fitness when returning with a victory over timber at Towcester.
Poole Master 28-1 (11-6) Prominent to 6th, soon behind, tailed off 10th (bechers), pulled up after 3 out, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Indian Castle (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, pushed along 19th, ridden before 5 out, weakened before 4 out, pulled up, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
No Planning 10-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place after 6th, mistakes 7th and when well behind 9th, soon pulled up, at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 1-3fav (11-5) Led and soon left clear after start, unchallenged, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) gd in Jun beating Aalim (10-12) by 7l, 5 ran.
Sun Cloud (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, some headway from 4 out, ridden after 2 out, never able to challenge, 4th of 7, 16 3/4l behind Royale Knight (11-8) at Sedgefield 3m 5f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Firebird Flyer (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 6th, not fluent next or 13th, close up 4 out, no extra when slow last, 7th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Virak (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Theatrical Star 8-1fav (11-2) Prominent, pushed along after 13th (water), ridden and weakened after 16th, tailed off, 7th of 12, dist behind Drop Out Joe (11-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Straidnahanna (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Held up mainly in 4th, close up when mistake 11th, led 4 out, ridden and headed narrowly between last 2, kept on under pressure flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Gold Futures (11-12) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Royal Palladium (FR) 20-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, led 8th, driven before last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Drop Out Joe (11-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Toby Lerone (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Made all, ridden and pressed before 2 out, just held on, won at Towcester 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov beating For Instance (10-12) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
