chased leaders, slow 2nd, guessed at 3rd and pushed along, went 2nd after 2 out, no chance with winner
led, not fluent 1st, headed before 2 out, 3rd and one pace before last, lost 3rd close home
chased leaders on outside, mistake 2nd, lost place 2 out, weakened
tracked leader, pushed along and losing place when not much room bend before 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway when mistake 2 out, no impression on winner, one pace, took 3rd close home
held up, headway going well 3 out, led before 2 out, clear approaching last, eased towards finish
Old Guard won this last year for Paul Nicholls when beating stablemate San Benedeto but had a run under his belt on that occasion and VERDANA BLUE (NAP) is preferred. The latter hasn’t raced over timber since April but won on the Flat at Chelmsford last month and Nicky Henderson’s mare is weighted to go close on these terms. A recent runner-up at Fontwell, High Secret has plenty to find at the weights with the selection but has a fitness advantage over the returning Unison and also Smaoineamh Alainn.
Old Guard 10-1 (11-6) Chased leader, jumped slowly 4th, ridden and lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened soon after, 4th of 6, 30l behind Call Me Lord (11-0) at Sandown 2m 5f (1) gs in Apr.
High Secret (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Set steady pace, headed 3rd, with leader, led after 6th, ridden approaching last, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Haul Away (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
San Benedeto (FR) 2-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, started racing keenly on downhill run before 6th, ridden and beaten 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 5, 10 3/4l behind Ozzie The Oscar (11-2) at Warwick 2m hcp (2) gd in May.
Unison (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Led, headed 2 out, 3rd and held flat, kept on, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Mister Universum (10-6) at Warwick 2m hcp (2) gd in May.
Smaoineamh Alainn (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Mid-division on inside, some headway after 2 out, no impression, weakened and pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Verdana Blue (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd and poised to challenge inside final 2f, led over 1f out, shaken up to go clear inside final furlong, stayed on, readily, won at Chelmsford City 1m 5f stks (3) pol in Sep beating Early Summer (8-11) by 3 3/4l, 5 ran.
