chased leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed last, rallied gamely to lead again final 75 yards
held up towards rear, steady headway on inside after 8th, chased leaders approaching 4 out, weakened approaching the last
towards rear, behind and no chance when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before the last
mistakes, held up towards rear, mistake 4th, blundered 6th, headway under pressure before 3 out, went modest 4th before the last
chased leader, led after 3rd until next, chased leaders, jumped slowly 7th, hung left from 3 out, poor 7th when pulled up last
led until after 3rd, chased leader, led again 9th until 4 out, chased leading pair, one pace and no impression before the last
chased leaders, blundered and weakened 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
in rear, some headway on inside approaching 4 out, ridden before next, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, led 4th until 9th, chased leaders, 2nd from 4 out, switched left approaching last, ridden to lead last, headed and no extra final 75 yards
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, blundered and weakened next
Pearls Legend was third at Cheltenham – ahead of Lough Kent, Fairyinthewind and Owen Na View – after finishing second at Ascot and should run well again. Parsnip Pete was second in this two years ago but is still 7lb higher and better suited by good ground. Eastlake turned in a shocker on his reappearance and is proving hard to predict while Grey Gold is high enough in the weights. But Stellar Notion is interesting given he's been very lightly raced and goes well fresh. MOUNTAIN KING gets the nod, however, as dropping back to 2m is in his favour and he shaped with promise at Wetherby on his reappearance when not given a hard race.
Grey Gold (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Prominent, blundered badly at 2nd and pulled up before next, at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding in Apr.
Eastlake (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Towards rear, lost place 7th, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Parsnip Pete 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden before and hit 3 out, weakened before last, last of 7, 30 1/4l behind Claret Cloak (11-12) at Kempton 2m hcp (2) gd in May.
Lough Kent 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, headway after 3 out, virtually upsides when blundered and rider lost iron next, every chance last, weakened flat, 7th of 15, 11 3/4l behind Keel Haul (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Mountain King 17-2 (11-6) Held up in 5th, headway 12th, outpaced 3 out, plugged on, 4th of 8, 13 1/4l behind Wakanda (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
Stellar Notion (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Led to 2nd, tracked leader, lost place 4 out, behind when mistake next, soon weakened, 13th of 20, 31 1/4l behind Irish Cavalier (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar.
Pearls Legend 8-1 (11-1) Made most, hard pressed when hit 2 out, soon ridden, headed flat, kept on, held when lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 15, 3 1/4l behind Keel Haul (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Gardefort (FR) 13-8fav (11-6) Held up in rear, in 5th and ridden before last, soon left 3rd, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 9 1/2l behind Firth Of The Clyde (11-6) at Wetherby 2m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Owen Na View (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Always behind, 10th of 15, 26 1/2l behind Keel Haul (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Whispering Harry 8-1 (11-8) Led until after 2nd, remained close up, ridden before 2 out, weakened from last, 11th of 13, 29 1/2l behind Sir Valentino (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Fairyinthewind (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Behind, reminders after 7th (water), headway under pressure on outside 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened flat, 8th of 15, 14 1/4l behind Keel Haul (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
