tracked leaders, headway travelling well in 3rd well before 2 out, pushed along in 2nd before 2 out, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on well to go clear run-in
held up towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 5th
held up in last pair, pushed along and struggling in last place before 5th, never involved, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders on outside, switched right approaching 3 out, led soon after 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, no chance with winner
pressed leader until not fluent 3rd, chased leaders until weakened quickly 6th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
took keen hold, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 3rd, led and went left 3 out, headed well before next, lost 2nd before 2 out, went left mistake and lost 3rd 2 out, weakened
chased leaders on inside, pushed along before 3 out, weakened and mistake 3 out, behind and pulled up before next
held up in rear, steady headway after 6th, chased leaders after next, 3rd 2 out, plugged on, never any chance with easy winner
keen, made most until headed and carried left 3 out, chased leaders, weakened quickly well before next, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
A grandly-title race but a decent contest nonetheless with the weights headed by Paul Nicholls’ Tommy Silver, who ran in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham after winning at Taunton. Song Light also ran at The Festival and wasn’t disgraced while Maestro Royal has won at Sandown and Newbury this term, though is now on a career-high mark. HINT OF MINT set too strong a pace at Taunton last month and was beaten when falling. But he should enjoy the forecast quick going today and has cheekpieces on for the first time to help him settle. Excellent Team faces by far his toughest task to date but still looks the pick of the remainder.
Tommy Silver (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, ridden and lost place after 2 out, weakened before last, 11th of 23, 19 3/4l behind Champagne Classic (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Hint Of Mint 11-4 (11-12) Tracked leader, led after 2nd, headed after 4 out, soon under pressure, held in 4th when fell 2 out, at Taunton 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Rossetti 33-1 (10-11) Prominent, led after 2nd, headed before next, hit 4th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Song Light 20-1 (10-3) Always towards rear, 18th of 25, 19 1/2l behind Arctic Fire (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Bleu Et Noir 9-1 (11-12) Led and soon clear, reduced lead 2 out, ridden and headed on long run to last (3f out), soon weakened, 6th of 9, 14 1/2l behind Midnight Maestro (11-2) at Stratford 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Excellent Team 11-4 (11-6) Made virtually all, shaken up and clear between last 2, easily, won at Stratford 2m (4) gd in Apr beating Petiville (11-0) by 13l, 11 ran.
Caid Du Lin (FR) 7-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, led by-passing omitted 2 out, pitched on landing last and unseated rider, at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Regulation (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, closer 5th, went modest 3rd on long run before the last, dropped to 4th close home, 4th of 9, 10 1/4l behind Highland Fling (11-0) at Fakenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Templier (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, weakening when mistake next, tailed off, 8th of 11, dist behind Deauville Crystal (10-7) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Maestro Royal 7-2 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden, switched right before 2 out, challenged last, hung left and led flat, stayed on, in command towards finish, won at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Mar beating Inner Drive (11-5) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Remiluc (FR) 33-1 (11-7) With leader, every chance 3 out, ridden and weakened before last, 8th of 19, 23 1/4l behind Chesterfield (11-1) at Aintree 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
