held up in rear but in touch and keen, headway tracking leaders before 2 out, 4th and no extra from last, kept on towards finish
raced keenly, held up in touch in last pair, headway on inside tracking leaders before 4th, challenged and edged left before last, led last, hung left and kept on under pressure run-in
led as no one else wanted to and set steady pace, hit 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened between last 2
raced keenly, tracked leaders, travelling on bit 2 out, edged left and every chance last, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
tracked leader and keen, led 2 out, ridden and headed last, not pace of winner, lost 2nd towards finish
took keen hold in touch, lost place 6th, behind and struggling next, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
Reve De Sivola and Taquin De Seuil are past winners of this Grade 1 and another small-but-select field has been assembled today. CHAMP (NAP) made it three from three for the season in a handicap over course and distance four weeks ago. He won off a mark of 139 that day so sets a decent benchmark and he’s only defeat over timber so far came against the smart Vinndication. Coolanly made amends for a fall at Chepstow by winning a Grade 2 at Cheltenham with something in hand, though Nicky Henderson has a good line on Tom George’s gelding through the second. Warwick winner Nestor Park looks held on that form but the mare Alsa Mix goes from strength-to-strength and none of the others can be ruled out. Kateson is preferred to Getaway Trump and Brewin'upastorm as he’s already proved himself over track and trip.
Brewin'upastorm (IRE) 5-6fav (10-12) Tracked leader, not fluent 3 out, driven to lead next, ran on strongly, won at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Dec beating Brecon Hill (11-4) by 4l, 14 ran.
Champ (IRE) 9-2jfav (11-6) Pulled hard in mid-division, headway tracking leaders 4th, pulled way into lead next, made rest, clear approaching 3 out, hit next, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Le Musee (10-1) by 4 1/2l, 15 ran.
Coolanly (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Held up behind, headway on outside, after 5th, challenged on wide outside 2 out, led narrowly last, ridden clear flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Nov beating Pym (11-0) by 3 1/4l, 9 ran.
Getaway Trump (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, led last, ran on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f (4) hvy in Dec beating Tedham (10-12) by 5l, 17 ran.
Kateson 5-4fav (11-3) Chased leaders, 2nd after 4 out, led next, 2 lengths ahead last, kept on well run-in, won at Newbury 2m 5f (3) sft in Nov beating Mr Pumblechook (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Nestor Park (FR) 6-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3 out, led next, clear flat, easily, won at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Nov beating Samburu Shujaa (11-0) by 5l, 17 ran.
Alsa Mix (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders on inside, effort to lead 2 out, soon ridden, clear before last, kept on well, won at Sandown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec beating Darlac (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
