mid-division on inside, headway after 3 out, effort between last 2, ridden to lead flat, held on near finish
tracked clear leader, blundered 5th, ridden and kept on after 2 out, lost place when not fluent last, faded flat
mid-division on outside, lost place 4 out, soon behind, pulled up next
keen early, in touch, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression when not fluent last, weakened flat
led, clear after 3rd, not fluent 3 out, ridden and reduced advantage after next, not fluent last, headed flat, no extra
chased leaders, reminders and lost place after 4th, behind from 4 out, pulled up next
mid-division in touch, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, stayed on well flat, just failed for 3rd, not reach leaders
towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on flat, not reach leaders
tracked leaders, hit 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, weakened between last 2
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, ridden and no impression when lost action badly and pulled up quickly before next
mid-division, pushed along after 4th, ridden after 3 out, headway under pressure before last, stayed on strongly flat, went 2nd towards finish, not quite reach winner
mid-division, headway after 4 out, stayed on to challenge and every chance last, outpaced by winner final 100 yards, lost 2nd towards finish
towards rear, headway into mid-division 3 out, never near leaders, weakened after next
always towards rear, struggling 4 out, tailed off when pulled up next
always towards rear
behind, headway into mid-division 3 out, no impression when badly hampered by stricken rival before next, never able to challenge
A cracking renewal of this Grade 3 handicap. Four-year-olds have won it in the past and Christopher Wood ran well behind Pentland Hills in a Grade 1 at Aintree, though might have preferred more give in the ground which is a comment that also applies to Mister Fisher. Champagne City keeps knocking on the door but is also climbing the weights. Sofia's Rock is unexposed but has a lot to prove in this grade off a mark of 140 and 2m around here may be too sharp for Le Patriote. The Scottish Champion Hurdle has been a good trial for this and the much-improved DINO VELVET finished second in that last month, despite making mistakes. He should again beat fifth Leoncavallo and still looks fairly treated. Cubswin and Arthington finished 1-2 here three weeks ago and there shouldn’t be much between the pair again but Nietzsche is more interesting. Brian Ellison’s charge is still 9lb higher than when winning the Greatwood at Cheltenham in November but ran well at Aintree last month and also on the Flat two weeks ago so rates a big danger.
Le Patriote (FR) 14-1 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway 2 out, switched right and close 2nd when left in lead last, ran on well, comfortably, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating No Hassle Hoff (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.
Mister Fisher (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) In touch, driven 2 out, kept on same pace, never able to challenge, 8th of 16, 23 1/4l behind Klassical Dream (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Jenkins (IRE) 22-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3rd, led after next, headed before last, weakened flat, 7th of 15, 17 3/4l behind Le Patriote (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Leoncavallo (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) With leader, led narrowly 2nd, driven before 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, no impression when not fluent last, lost place flat, 5th of 14, 9 1/2l behind Verdana Blue (11-10) at Ayr 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Sofia's Rock (FR) 15-8 (11-6) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, led before 5th, clear when went right 3 out and 2 out, landed a bit awkwardly last, eased towards finish, won at Ludlow 2m (4) gs in Mar beating Good Man Jim (11-6) by 13l, 10 ran.
Champagne City 11-2 (11-11) Mid-division, reminder after 5th, headway when mistake 3 out, led before last, headed post, 2nd of 12, shd behind Winston C (11-12) at Kelso 2m hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Christopher Wood (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, disputing 2nd 4 out, mistake 3 out, ridden and not pace of front pair last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 9, 6 1/4l behind Pentland Hills (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Fiesole 10-1 (10-5) Held up off the pace in 6th, good headway before 3 out, close 2nd when carried left 2 out, led before last, came easily clear, won at Plumpton 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Legal History (10-2) by 9l, 9 ran.
Dino Velvet (FR) 14-1 (10-4) Behind, not fluent 5th, headway under pressure after 3 out, chased leaders next, ridden and stayed on to take 2nd flat, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Verdana Blue (11-10) at Ayr 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Nietzsche 13-2 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, took narrow 3rd near finish, not reach front pair, 3rd of 16, 2 3/4l behind Get Back Get Back (9-6) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Arthington 10-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, ran on into 2nd after last, just failed, 2nd of 16, hd behind Cubswin (11-6) at Haydock 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Project Bluebook (FR) 20-1 (10-8) Held up, always towards rear, 13th of 21, dist behind Three Musketeers (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
John Constable (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, hampered 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, dist behind Benny's Bridge (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Flying Tiger (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Held up, soon behind, pushed along and headway over 3f out, ridden and one pace final 2f, 4th of 16, 6 1/2l behind Aloe Vera (8-8) at Chepstow 1m 2f stks (5) gd in May.
Cubswin (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) In touch, chased leaders 3 out, led before 2 out, hard ridden after last, challenged close home held on gamely, won at Haydock 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Arthington (11-9) by hd, 16 ran.
Kingofthecotswolds (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up mainly in 4th, outpaced when mistake 2 out, ridden before last, never able to challenge, 4th of 6, 15l behind Go Another One (11-5) at Perth 3m lst (1) gd in Apr.
Thistimenextyear 6-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd final 110 yards, stayed on well, just held, 2nd of 19, hd behind Chief Justice (11-2) at Aintree 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
