led, jumped right 11th, headed after 18th, lost place from 4 out
prominent, led after 18th, headed 3 out, led again last, swerved left flat, straightened up and driven out
chased leaders on outside, lost place 6th, not fluent and bumped 8th, mistake and behind 14th (water), tailed off from next
chased leaders, ridden after 18th, challenged 4 out, led 3 out, headed and blundered last, held after, stayed on
in rear, struggling from 17th, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders on outside, lost place after 5th, struggling from 15th
prominent, lost place before 4 out
held up, in touch 12th, not fluent 15th, lost place 3 out
in touch 9th, not fluent 17th, close up 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
slightly reluctant to race, in rear, not fluent 4th, mistake 6th, headway 17th, close 4th when mistake 4 out, lost place when bad mistake 2 out
held up, bumped 8th, effort when hit 16th, close 3rd 4 out, every chance when blundered 3 out, stayed on same pace flat
Dreamsoftheatre was tailed off when Rockiteer finished a 10-length second in this last year, though arrives in better form this time after wins at Bangor and Cartmel. Philip Hobbs sent out Imperial Circus to win this in 2013 and his Allthekingshorses will strip fitter for a run at Warwick. Azure Fly has plenty of scope for further improvement this season and makes more appeal than two-times course winner Rio Milan and August's Southwell winner Lemony Bay while Best Boy Barney may have too much weight. SYBARITE (NAP) didn't really take to fences first time around but is older and wiser now. He was running well off higher mark over hurdles last season and could be the value to make a winning reappearance.
Best Boy Barney (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent 1st, hard pressed when jumped right from 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner when lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 7, 9 1/2l behind Buachaill Alainn (10-6) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Azure Fly (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Chased leader, led 3rd, headed briefly 13th, pushed along before 5 out, headed and dropped to 3rd after 5 out, driven and one pace before next, 3rd of 4, 13l behind Silver Commander (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Sybarite (FR) 9-1 (11-3) Prominent, pushed along after 6th, ridden next, soon lost place, last 4 out, ran on flat, no threat to leaders, 5th of 10, 14 3/4l behind No Planning (11-8) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) sft in May.
Dreamsoftheatre (IRE) 2-1fav (10-9) Tracked leaders, hit 7th, went 2nd 2 out, 7 lengths down after last, soon ridden, rallied inside final furlong, led narrowly towards finsh, just held on, won at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Abolitionist (10-12) by shd, 6 ran.
Firm Order (IRE) 5-1fav (11-3) Mid-division, weakened 13th, behind when pulled up after next, at Ascot 3m hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Allthekingshorses (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leader until 7th, lost place 11th, outpaced 15th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 8, 34 1/4l behind Dursey Sound (10-12) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Rockiteer (IRE) 11-4fav (12-4) With leader, led after 3rd until after 7th, disputed lead, mistake 5 out, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Kelso 3m 2f (4) gd in May.
Lemony Bay 13-2 (11-8) Made all, not fluent 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on well flat, won at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Aug beating Take A Bow (11-9) by 3l, 7 ran.
Rio Milan (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Made all, pushed along after 13th, mistake 4 out, clear 2 out, comfortably, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Apr beating It's A Steal (11-3) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Highway Code (USA) 11-1 (11-9) Mid-division, weakened before halfway, soon beaten, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Bangor 3m hcp (4) gs in Aug.
King Massini (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Behind, headway to go 3rd before 4 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 8 3/4l behind Loughalder (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (4) hvy in May.
