held up, jumped left at times, switched left and closed before 3rd, led next, ridden and headed flat, no impression towards finish
jumped left and not always fluent, prominent, led after 3rd, headed next, beaten before 2 out, soon weakened
held up behind leaders, jumped left at times, closed on inside 3 out, weakened before next
led until after 3rd, last and slow next, soon behind, pulled up before 8th
slowly into stride, headway on outside when jumped left 5th, every chance when mistake 2 out, 3rd and beaten last, weakened flat
chased leaders, went 2nd before last, led flat, stayed on well, ridden out
ROYAL RUBY is having a first run since August but has been waiting for better ground and it will be a surprise if he’s not fully primed for this. Only Money is 15lb higher than when successful here last May but did win by nine lengths at Leicester earlier this month so looks a threat. Raffles Gitane still has time on her side but Galop De Chasse has done nearly all of his racing on testing surfaces and he was never travelling at Chepstow three weeks ago when pulled up having been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat post-race.
Galop De Chasse (FR) 13-8fav (11-9) In rear, never going well, not fluent 3rd, behind next, pulled up after 5th, at Chepstow 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Royal Ruby 2-1fav (11-8) Led or close 2nd, mistake 4 out, headed narrowly when mistake last, 3rd and no extra towards finish, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Goa Lil (11-11) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Chaptal (FR) 33-1 (10-10) In rear, not fluent 1st, blundered 9th, well behind 12th, mistake last, 5th of 8, dist behind Erne River (11-1) at Doncaster 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Baracalu (FR) 16-1 (11-1) Mistake 1st, jumped right, prominent on outside, driven and lost place when not fluent 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 9, 36 1/4l behind Main Fact (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Only Money (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Raced wide off the pace in 5th, good headway out wide bypassing omitted 7th, went 2nd before 4 out, led 4 out, went clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Marajman (11-11) by 9l, 5 ran.
Raffles Gitane (FR) 11-2 (11-0) With leader, led 5th, headed before next, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
