not fluent, held up towards rear, ridden after 8th, well beaten 3 out
led until 1st, tracked leaders, lost place before 6th, well beaten before 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on flat, no chance with leaders
mid-division, headway 6th, went 2nd 3 out, ridden approaching last, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd towards finish
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 11th, in touch in 5th 2 out, soon outpaced, weakened before last where hampered
tracked winner until 3 out, outpaced after next, rallied last, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish
chased leaders, outpaced 11th, well beaten before 2 out, stayed on flat, went 4th close home, no impression
made virtually all, mistake 2nd, clear last, driven flat, stayed on gamely
prominent, mistake 5th, not fluent 7th, blundered 9th, outpaced 11th, 6th and weakening 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on inside 8th, close 4th when not fluent 2 out, pressed for 3rd off home bend, 4th and weakening when mistake last
tracked leaders on outside, mistake and lost place 4th, well beaten before 3 out
held up in rear, mistake 9th, well beaten before 3 out, mistake 2 out
This looks wide-open with an end-to-end gallop pretty much guaranteed. Seventh Sky made all at Haydock a couple of weeks ago but has had a few hard races lately. Richard Johnson gave VILLAGE VIC a superb ride over course and distance last month to complete the hat-trick. Third Tenor Nivernais is 7lb better off but Philip Hobbs' charge has come of age this season and can defy an 8lb higher mark. Top Gamble looked to be coming to hand behind Little Jon at Newbury last time and can turn the tables here on the winner but Mon Successeur might struggle to follow up his win at Ascot on this stiffer track. Johns Spirit has run his best races here and looks the pick of Jonjo O'Neill's pair and he's also preferred to the enigmatic Mr Mole.
Mr Mole (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, hampered 3rd, never on terms after, 5th of 7, 20 3/4l behind Sire De Grugy (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Seventh Sky (GER) 10-1 (11-12) Made all, driven 4 out, drew clear before last, ran on strongly, won at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Spookydooky (11-9) by 7l, 10 ran.
Top Gamble (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear on outside, hit 2nd, steady headway from 5th, went 2nd 4 out until before 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 5 3/4l behind Little Jon (10-10) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, struggling 10th, well beaten before 3 out, 9th of 14, 27 1/4l behind Village Vic (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 10-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd from after 7th until 13th, no impression on winner from 2 out, stayed on, 3rd of 14, 5 1/2l behind Village Vic (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Lost Legend (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd 10th until 4 out, one pace 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 12, 22 3/4l behind Little Jon (10-10) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Village Vic (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Made all, 4 lengths clear 2 out, stayed on well, unchallenged, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec beating Champagne West (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 14 ran.
Little Jon 8-1 (10-7) Chased winner, hit 7th, sprawled badly and lost place, well beaten from 3 out, 10th of 14, 30 3/4l behind Village Vic (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Mon Successeur (FR) 6-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, steady headway 11th, chased leaders 4 out, 2nd travelling well between last two, quickned to lead approaching last, soon clear, easily, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Mountain King (11-12) by 7l, 10 ran.
Thomas Crapper 10-1 (11-12) In rear, headway before 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, 12th of 16, 35 3/4l behind Towering (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
A Good Skin (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway on outside 12th, went 2nd 16th, ridden when blundered and lost 2nd 3 out, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 12, 12 1/2l behind Drop Out Joe (11-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
