raced keenly, led, mistakes 4th 5th and next, not fluent and headed 3 out, weakened and beaten when blundered next
chased leading pair, 3rd and one pace from 2 out, no chance with leading duo
raced keenly, held up in last pair, steady headway into 4th place before 3 out, 2nd soon after 3 out, every chance last, edged left and stayed on same pace run-in
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, hit 5th, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, behind when mistake next
raced keenly, tracked leader, stumbled 1st, led 3 out, joined last, edged left under pressure and kept on gamely run-in
held up last, pushed along before 3 out, 4th and one pace from next
held up off the pace in 5th, weakened on long run before 3 out
NonRunner
Kingston won three times last season but it’s off-putting that he was well beaten in a seller last time. Plumpton runner-up Mr Jack has no form over a trip this far and Its'afreebee is having a first run over hurdles in more than a year, though was in good form on the Flat last summer. ALWAYS RESOLUTE never threatened at Ascot after winning at Wetherby but softer going was a legitimate excuses. Conditions today won’t be a problem and Ian Williams’ charge can get back on track ahead of Musselburgh scorer Chebsey Beau and the unexposed Present From Dubai.
Defi Sacre (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Tracked winner, ridden after 3 out, lost 2nd from next, edging left and one pace in 3rd before last, no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 8 1/4l behind Diamond Gait (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gd in Jan.
Quest For Life 11-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place before 3 out, 11th of 14, dist behind Teescomponents Lad (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Its'afreebee (IRE) 100-1 (8-5) Never better than mid-division, weakened over 3f out, tailed off, 26th of 33, dist behind Low Sun (9-2) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp stks (2) gf in Oct.
Chebsey Beau 11-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, outpaced 4 out, headway after next, soon chasing leaders, every chance after last, stayed on strongly to lead towards finish, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jan beating Kajaki (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Always Resolute 4-1 (10-12) Mid-division on inside, pushed along over 3f out, plugged on, 6th of 14, 13l behind Darling Maltaix (11-4) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Present From Dubai (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway and hampered before 3 out, kept on well from last, went 2nd towards finish, always well held, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Mick Maestro (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (5) gd in May.
Kingston (GER) 15-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, outpaced before next, no impression, lost modest 3rd close home, 4th of 8, 11 1/4l behind Regulation (11-6) at Leicester 2m 4f (4) gd in Jan.
Mr Jack (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Chased leader, led on inside going well after 3 out, headed before the last, not pace of winner run-in, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind First Quest (11-11) at Plumpton 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
