held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up
led, headed before 4th, tracked leader until before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, rallied before last, soon chased winner, kept on and always held
close up, led 5 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on strongly
held up towards rear, pushed along 7th, soon weakened
with leaders, led before 4th, headed 5 out, weakened before 3 out
held up in rear, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out
held up mid-division, headway 5 out, chsed winner from 4 out until ridden last, no extra
Paul Nicholls has won four of the last seven renewals and could be on the mark again with VICENTE. The five-year-old did really well to foil smart chaser Present View at Cheltenham eight days ago when looking beaten at the last. The pair pulled clear of the third and the form looks solid. Four-year-olds have a decent record in the Grade 2 and easy Newton Abbot winner Son Du Berlais looks a better bet than My Direction. Mile House has been impressive this season and there is plenty more to come from Blaklion. He pulled hard on his hurdling debut at Perth but still managed to beat a previous winner and is held in high regard. The Pirate's Queen ran in decent company last season but, though often placed, struggled to get her head in front.
Son Du Berlais (FR) 1-5fav (11-4) Chased clear leader, closed when not fluent 4th, challenged 2 out, led on bit before last, not extended, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Sep beating Val D'arc (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Vicente (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, went 2nd after next, 1 length down last, soon ridden and every chance, stayed on to lead narrowly towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nh nov hdl (2) gd beating Present View (10-12) by hd, 6 ran.
Blaklion 4-9fav (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 4th, ridden run-in, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Perth 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep beating Pumped Up Kicks (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Henllan Harri (IRE) 4-5fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led after 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on, driven out, won at Ffos Las 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jun beating Always Archie (11-5) by 6l, 4 ran.
Mile House (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Jumped right, took keen hold tracking leader, led narrowly 3rd, clear before last, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Lily Waugh (10-12) by 6l, 4 ran.
My Direction 3-10fav (11-11) Tracked leader, not fluent 4th, led before 3 out, clear after next, comfortably, won at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep beating Macarthur (11-5) by 5l, 5 ran.
Relentless Dreamer (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up, closed on outside from 3rd, went 2nd after 4 out, led 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Bandit Country (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
The Pirate's Queen (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Held up in rear, not much room when mistake 2nd, hampered on bend after 5th, headway 2 out, went 3rd before last, one pace and no impression, 3rd of 9, 14l behind As I Am (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 1f mares listed nov hdl (1) gd in Apr.
