in touch, headway to track leaders 12th, 3rd and held when blundered and fell 2 out
took keen hold, tracked leaders to 10, weakened approaching 4 out, no chance when jumped badly right next
raced in close 4th, tracked leader 13th, blundered 4 out, ridden to challenge last, led and edged right final 150 yards, driven out
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, ridden and struggling from 8th, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, steady headway when left disputing 4th 2 out, soon beaten, jumped right last
led, headed and mistake 5th, tracked leader, led again 9th, driven last, headed and no extra on final 150 yards
held up, mistake 3rd, steady headway on outside when left disputing 4th 2 out, strong challenge last, chased winner and every chance final 150 yards, unable to quicken
The manner of Tikram's success in the Mildmay Of Flete last time suggested that he could go on and we will side with him to follow-up, with the admirable Fondmort and Le Roi Miguel the main dangers. The Gary Moore-trained selection will have conditions to his liking again here and there was plenty to like about the way he swooped late to take the Festival handicap, in the end going away. Though he is taking on some Grade 1 regulars here, his weight pull gives him every chance of going in. Fondmort is at his best over this course and distance and it is therefore risky opposing him. He was four lengths behind Tikram at the Festival and strictly speaking is weighted to dead heat with him here. However, another crushing weight to carry for this admirable character may again find him wanting when they quicken up the hill. Le Roi Miguel remains something of an enigma. Well supported at Liverpool recently, he flopped, and it is difficult to be precise about what is his best trip. Nevertheless he remains highly rated on the basis of his two Grade 1 wins last spring and Paul Nicholls has not lost faith, so we may see a return to something like his best today. Of the remainder, expect Seebald and Upgrade to show up well for Martin Pipe, but for the selection we are sticking with Tikram.
