tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and chased winner after 2 out, kept on, no impression
handy, mistake 12th, pushed along after 4 out, weakened 2 out
in rear, in touch on outer, went 3rd after 12th, pushed along after 4 out, hit 3 out, stayed on one pace, not fluent last
made all, jumped well, shaken up after 2 out, stayed on strongly, readily
chased leaders, shaken up home turn, weakened 3 out
The King Of May was weakening when falling at the last at Newcastle last month while War Lord was pulled up in a Grade 3 at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and is still paying the price for last season’s exploits in novice company. JETOILE is not getting much respite from the handicapper either but he has done nothing but improve since tackling fences. Gemirande beat subsequent winner Our Jet by more than seven lengths at Southwell in November and is only 3lb worse off but is more exposed than his old rival.
War Lord (GER) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, hit 11th, headway 13th, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten final bend before 2 out, soon pulled up, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Jetoile (IRE) 9-4fav (12-0) In touch, headway and every chance 2 out, slow jump last, stayed on flat, narrowly denied, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Wheelbahri (10-9) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Our Jet (IRE) 13-8fav (11-13) Raced wide in touch, headway to track leaders 5th, led 9th, ridden and joined 4 out, driven and all out, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Honneur D'Ajonc (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Gemirande (FR) 3-1fav (11-8) Led, hit 8th, mistake and headed 2 out, well held last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 8, 6 1/2l behind Certainly Red (11-11) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
The King Of May (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Prominent, led from 7th, ridden and hard pressed 4 out, headed before 2 out, no extra approaching last when fell, at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
