tracked leaders in 3rd, led 3 out, kept on and headed towards finish
held up mid-division, fell 6 out
held up mid-division, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
led, headed before 5th, tracked leader, ridden before 3 out, weakened before last
towards rear, headway before 3 out, every chance last, kept on same pace run-in
tracked leader, blundered 1st, led before 5th, headed 3 out, ridden before last, weakened run-in
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on towards finish
held up towards rear, badly hampered 6 out, weakened from 4 out
Marracudja usually gives a bold sight but doesn't always find much at the business end and could get taken on for the lead by the normally-reliable Pearls Legend, second to Oliver's Hill at Fontwell. Noche De Reyes is 12lb higher than when second in this last year but Workbench has been successful off a higher mark, though does most of his winning at Fontwell. BACK BY MIDNIGHT has a decent record first-time up and won over this trip at Taunton in March. He gets a tentative vote ahead of Breath Of Blighty and Braavos, who jumped poorly on his fencing bow at Stratford.
Marracudja (FR) 11-10 (11-12) Led, headed before last, one pace and no impression, 2nd of 3, 16l behind Hammersly Lake (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Apr.
Noche De Reyes (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Soon chased leaders, 5th after 5th, slightly impeded 2 out, no impression when not fluent at last, 6th of 10, 29 1/4l behind Neverushacon (11-2) at Galway 2m 2f hcp sft in Aug.
Braavos 4-1 (10-12) Made most, not fluent 9th (water), not fluent and headed 3 out (usual 4 out), soon outpaced, behind and weakened 2 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Stratford 2m 7f (4) sft in Oct.
Pearls Legend 8-1 (11-11) Led, headed 7th, soon ridden, jumped left 9th, closed on winner 3 out, no impression from last, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Oliver's Hill (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Workbench (FR) 6-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, in touch 4 out, no extra from 3 out, 5th of 8, 24l behind Go Conquer (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Back By Midnight 9-1 (11-6) Made all, jumped right throughout, hard driven 2 out, ran on well, won at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Lou Vert (11-12) by 5l, 7 ran.
Oliver's Hill (IRE) 9-2 (10-2) Chased leader, led 7th, soon clear, reduced lead before 3 out, edged left before 2 out, drew clear again from last, comfortably, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Pearls Legend (11-11) by 8l, 8 ran.
Breath Of Blighty (FR) 8-1 (11-9) In touch, outpaced approaching 13th, rallied from 2 out,, 4th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Deauville Dancer (12-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
