chased leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching last, no impression after
mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden to challenge last, hung left and every chance flat, no impression final 75 yards
held up in rear, headway after 2 out, switched left before last, went 3rd final 100 yards, stayed on
prominent, ridden 3 out, soon lost place
chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 5th, not much room when closing after 2 out, close 3rd last, ridden and unable to quicken flat, one pace
held up towards rear, some headway after 3 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced before last
chased leaders, ridden approaching last, stayed on same pace flat
held up towards rear, stayed on flat, never dangerous
prominent, led briefly 2nd, led 3rd, headed before 3 out, one pace before last, rider lost whip and no extra flat
made most until 3rd, ridden and lost place after 3 out
held up in rear, headway after 2 out, ridden and beaten when mistake last
prominent, led before 3 out, hard pressed when mistake last, stayed on well and drawing away final 75 yards
towards rear, not fluent and struggling 3rd, behind 3 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Wetherby winner Kayf Blanco is still climbing the weights but he's been very consistent this year and should be thereabouts again. Solstice Star has been in terrific form but all of his wins have come against lesser opposition. The evergreen Starluck won this last year and races off the same mark so can't be ignored while Ascendant enters the reckoning on his comeback third at Ludlow, where he beat Mad Jack Mytton in February. A HARE BREATH (NAP) won on his handicap debut over course and distance last month and is totally unexposed. Ben Pauling believes his five-year-old to be still well treated, despite a subsequent 12lb rise, and the booking of Barry Geraghty further increases confidence. Cape Caster has each-way claims but Sword of The Lord was disappointing at Taunton on Thursday.
Some Buckle (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders when edged left before 2 out, one pace when blundered last, soon weakened, 13th of 21, 32 3/4l behind Theinval (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Mad Jack Mytton (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Mid-division on inside, driven after 2 out, never on terms, weakened flat, 14th of 17, 21 3/4l behind Old Guard (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Kayf Blanco 4-1fav (11-11) Behind, smooth headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, led before last, ran on well (2 hurdles ommited), won at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Vendor (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Ascendant 8-1 (11-12) Chasing leaders when in view after 2nd, led after 4 out, headed when in view last, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Dubawi Island (11-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
A Hare Breath (IRE) 6-1fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway 2 out (usual 3 out), led approaching omitted last, ridden out, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Galizzi (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 20 ran.
Auenwirbel (GER) 33-1 (11-6) Always behind, never involved, 7th of 9, 30 1/4l behind Royal Guardsman (11-1) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Olofi (FR) 16-1 (10-4) Mid-division, driven 2 out, soon lost place, ridden and kept on flat, never near leaders, 10th of 17, 16 3/4l behind Old Guard (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Cape Caster (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, pushed along when left in 3rd place 2 out, soon driven and one pace, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Prairie Town (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Disputed (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Chased leader until after 1st, raced in 3rd after, went 2nd and closing 3 out, led next, ridden and headed flat, no impression after, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Shear Rock (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Cappielow Park 7-1fav (9-1) Slowly away, towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, faded last 100 yards, 5th of 13, 6 1/2l behind Lions Charge (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Breaking Bits (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Led, mistake 3rd, not fluent and headed 6th, ridden and beaten before 3 out, 5th of 7, 22l behind Watt Broderick (11-9) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
King Muro 50-1 (11-1) In rear, headway 2 out (usual 3 out), chased leaders when fell last (usual 2 out), at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Solstice Star 7-4fav (11-8) Raced keenly, made all, pushed along when mistake 2 out, in command soon after, eased final 100 yards, won at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec beating Arthur Mc Bride (11-7) by 9l, 5 ran.
Secret Dancer (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, slow 5th, ridden to challenge 3 out, led just after 2 out, headed flat, kept on well, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Ever So Much (11-12) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Starluck (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out, plugged on same pace, went 3rd 2 out until the last, lost modest 4th in closing stages, 5th of 11, 13 1/2l behind Winner Massagot (10-4) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Sword of The Lord 4-1fav (11-1) Raced keenly, held up in touch, smooth headway when hit 3 out, went 2nd after next, mistake last, driven and stayed on run-in, 2nd of 9, nk behind Isaac Bell (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
