chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, led before 2 out, in command flat, stayed on well
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, challenged after 3 out, pecked last, held flat, kept on
held up in rear, headway 4 out, 4 lengths 5th when blundered 3 out, struggling to get back on terms after, jumped left and not much room last, went 4th flat
jumped right at times, led, headed before 2 out, weakened flat
chased leaders on inside, lost place before 5th, ridden 4 out, effort when jumped left and bumped 2 out, went 3rd flat, no impression
prominent, hit 8th, beaten after 3 out, bumped 2 out, weakened
jumped right and mistakes, always behind
prominent in chasing pack until slow 5th, chased leaders, lost place before 4 out, well beaten when mistake 3 out
held up in mid-division on outside, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 3rd, closed 5th, weakened before 4 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
Magic Saint usually races over an extra half-mile but did win over this trip at Newbury last season. He made a promising reappearance at Aintree and Bryan Carver takes off a handy 5lb today, though he’s run here three times and has yet to place. Born Survivor is also better over 2m4f but Beat The Judge finished ahead of On The Slopes, Ballywood and Azzuri when third in the race won by Rouge Vif here last month though Chris Gordon’s charge, progressive last season, needed that run and can come out best of that quartet today. We’ll take a chance on the returning FANION D’ESTRUVAL, who made mistakes when a beaten favourite in a Grade 2 at Kempton when last seen but had impressed earlier on his UK debut at Newbury when beating a host of subsequent winners in a quick time.
Magic Saint (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden and beaten before last, 6th of 12, 9 1/4l behind Nuts Well (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Fanion D'estruval (FR) 6-4fav (11-0) Raced wide, held up in 5th, mistake 2nd, bit closer at 7th, outpaced 4 out, mistake next, plugged on run-in, never on terms, 5th of 6, 4 3/4l behind Global Citizen (11-2) at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Born Survivor (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Mid-division, mistake 6th, not much room 11th, headway next, outpaced and no impression from 4 pout, 9th of 11, dist behind Huntsman Son (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Oct.
On The Slopes 11-2 (10-8) Prominent, pushed along before 2 out, progress under pressure approaching last, one pace run in, 5th of 13, 10l behind Rouge Vif (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Beat The Judge (IRE) 4-1fav (10-7) Just worse than midfield, ridden 2 out, good jump last, headway on run in, up for 3rd final strides, 3rd of 13, 8 3/4l behind Rouge Vif (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Ballywood (FR) 6-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, pushed along to sit handy before 2 out, slow jump last, faded close home, 6th of 13, 12l behind Rouge Vif (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Eamon An Cnoic (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, blundered and unseated rider 2nd, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Azzuri 50-1 (10-10) Mistakes in rear, behind 8th, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Amoola Gold (10-8) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
Full Glass (FR) (11-2) 4th of 9, 34 1/4l behind Rhodax (11-2) at Lignieres 2m 4f hvy in Jun.
