mostly 3rd, not fluent 5th, challenged 3 out, led before next, ridden and headed last, not pace of winner flat
held up behind leaders, ridden after 3 out, unable to pick up, well held from 2 out
held up in 5th, not fluent 6th, closed after 8th, 3rd and one pace after 2 out, well held last, lost 3rd towards finish
held up in last and on outside, headway going well 3 out, went 2nd next, led last, quickened clear flat, easily
led, not always fluent, headed before 2 out, soon outpaced and held, kept on flat, went 3rd towards finish
mostly chased leader, outpaced after 9th, well beaten 2 out
PROSCHEMA was beaten almost three lengths by the mare Indefatigable in this last year, with Thomas Darby fourth, but the Skelton runner is 6lb better off with the winner and can turn the tables being the only one of these to have had a recent run. Sporting John doesn’t stand much racing but won on his reappearance last season and has a very good strike-rate. Threeunderthrufive is probably having a pipe-opener before being put back over fences but he is no slouch.
Thomas Darby (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake 2 out, plugged on, 4th of 8, 21 3/4l behind Sire Du Berlais (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Sporting John (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, led next, ran on, readily, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating The Jam Man (11-0) by 3l, 7 ran.
Oscar Elite (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Prominent, lost place 4th, pushed along after 10th, well behind 12th, pulled up before 13th, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Proschema (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, shaken up 3 out, soon every chance, ridden out, no extra flat, 7th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Knappers Hill (11-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Threeunderthrufive (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent 7th, mistake next, went 2nd 3 out until final bend, soon beaten, weakened before last, 6th of 9, 18 1/2l behind L'Homme Presse (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Indefatigable (IRE) 7-2 (9-1) In rear, pushed along 4f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Wise Eagle (9-6) at Pontefract 2m 2f stks (2) gs in Oct.
