led until 2nd, chased leader until before 8th, chased leaders, left in 2nd 2 out, well held when bad mistake last, weakened run-in
mid-division on inside, bad mistake 5th, headway chased leaders 2 out, hung left under pressure and went 2nd run-in, closed on idling winner, just held
mistake and towards rear 2nd, bit closer in mid-division 11th, pushed along and struggling before 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd before 8th until 3 out, chased leading trio, left 3rd and mistake 2 out, weakened badly run-in
mid-division, weakened 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders out wide, 5th and plenty to do at the last, stayed on into 3rd run-in, not pace to challenge
mid-division out wide, not fluent 10th (water), towards rear and struggling 12th, never on terms after
chased leading pair, went 2nd 3 out, left in clear lead next, stumbled badly last, idled run-in, always just doing enough
towards rear, some headway run-in, never a threat
chased leaders on inside, ridden after 3 out, outpaced before next, stayed on again run-in, never going pace to reach leaders
mid-division, towards rear and struggling 12th, mistake 4 out, stayed on well run-in, never nearer
towards rear of mid-division, headway last, stayed on well run-in, nearest finish
chased leader, led 2nd, ridden and 1 length ahead when fell 2 out
off the pace and always towards rear, never on terms
towards rear when fell 1st
never closer than mid-division, last pair and struggling 8th, tailed off
always rear-division, never a factor, tailed off
off the pace towards rear, stayed on well run-in, never nearer
NonRunner
Aso was last of only seven finishers in this 12 months ago behind all-the-way winner Coole Cody. The going will be quicker this year but the latter had the ideal prep race for a repeat when second over hurdles at the track. However, last year’s second and third - Spiritofthegames and Al Dancer - are weighted to reverse the form and the former has also had a pipe-opener over timber. MIDNIGHT SHADOW ran a really nice race behind a race-fit Allmankind in the Old Roan at Aintree. He has a pretty good record around here and is feasibly treated on a mark of 147 so gets the nod ahead of the less-exposed Protektorat, having a first run outside of novice company on his reappearance. Lalor and Simply The Betts are both having a first run for the Nicholls yard but Galahad Quest, an improver last season, is interesting on his third at Wetherby.
Simply The Betts (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Led until 3rd, chased winner until mistake 10th, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 16, 12 3/4l behind Coole Cody (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Protektorat (FR) 17-2 (11-4) Held up in mid-division on inside, headway and switched left before 3 out, switched right and went 2nd 2 out, edged right before leading last, stayed on well, driven out, won at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr beating The Shunter (11-4) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Aso (FR) 28-1 (11-7) Prominent when slow 1st, soon towards rear and not that fluent at times, mistake 6th, tailed off from 12th, 5th of 9, dist behind Clan Des Obeaux (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Paint The Dream 15-2 (11-1) Prominent, pressed leader from 5 out, pushed along before 2 out, led last, stayed on well, won going away, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Manofthemountain (10-12) by 9 1/2l, 9 ran.
Al Dancer (FR) 13-2 (11-7) Mid-division on inside, blundered badly 7th, pushed along before 12th, soon lost place, tailed off 4 out, pulled up soon after, at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Lalor (GER) 9-2 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, soon in rear, pulled up before the 9th, at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in May.
Caribean Boy (FR) 7-1fav (11-7) Prominent on outside, lost place 8th, blundered and lost place 11th (foinavon), well behind 13th, pulled up before 2 out, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Midnight Shadow 12-1 (10-10) Chased leader until before 2nd, lost place 4th, closed 6th, went 2nd from 7th until 12th, went 2nd again 3 out until flat, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Allmankind (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up, ridden after 3 out, headway 2 out, kept on, 4th of 10, 5 3/4l behind Stoney Mountain (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Manofthemountain (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Led, shaken up and pressed from 5 out, pushed along well before last, headed final fence, no extra run-in, 2nd of 9, 9 1/2l behind Paint The Dream (11-1) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Zanza (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, pecked 4th, went 3rd from 4 out, stayed on but unable to get on terms with front pair, 3rd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Eldorado Allen (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Dostal Phil (FR) 5-1 (10-10) Rear of mid-division on outer, slight mistake 2nd, bad mistake and unseated rider 5 out, at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Coole Cody (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Led, not fluent 3 out, mistake last, headed flat, held after, stayed on, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Guard Your Dreams (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Up The Straight (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Jumped well, bit keen in 3rd, went close 2nd at 10th, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Plumpton 2m 4f (3) gd in Oct beating Pisgah Pike (11-12) by 14l, 3 ran.
Belargus (FR) 16-5 (11-0) Patiently ridden in 6th, good headway tracking leaders before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on to lead and flashed tail briefly run-in, gamely, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Falco Blitz (11-10) by 4l, 8 ran.
Deyrann de Carjac (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Held up, not fluent 1st, headway 7th, 4th and held 2 out, weakened next, 5th of 6, 33l behind Lord Bryan (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Jun.
Funky Dady (FR) 9-1 (10-4) Rear, 14th after 9th, progress to 10th 3 out, headway before 2 out, ridden and no impression on principals before last, one paced run-in, 4th of 15, 15 1/4l behind Ontheropes (11-0) at Limerick 3m hcp sft in Oct.
Galahad Quest (FR) 28-1 (10-7) In rear, smooth headway going easily 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, switched right before last, kept on, lost second close home, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Good Boy Bobby (10-10) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Oct.
Nietzsche 16-1 (8-12) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, ran on one pace, 5th of 9, 9 1/2l behind Emiyn (9-11) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Farinet (FR) 13-2 (10-5) Stumbled badly 1st, chased leader until 5th, remained handy, went 2nd again at 13th, led before 3 out, pushed along and joined next, headed last, rallied gamely to lead again inside final 150 yards, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar beating Up The Straight (11-1) by 6 1/2l, 9 ran.
