in touch, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up
mid-division, unseated rider 4th
chased leaders, led 8th, pressed from 4 out, clear before last
chased leaders, led before 3rd, headed 6th, led next, headed 8th, weakened before 4 out
led, headed before 3rd, chased leaders, challenged 4 out, ridden before 3 out, soon every chance, held in 2nd when pecked badly 2 out, one pace and no chance with winner
mid-division, weakened before 8 out, pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway before 10th, held when badly hampered and unseated rider 3 out
mid-division, headway before 6 out, ridden before 3 out, soon left 3rd, no impression
towards rear, headway before 6 out, mistake 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up
always behind tailed off before 6 out, pulled up
soon with leaders, led 6th, headed 7th, lost place from 11th, tailed off, pulled up
behind, pushed along 11th, tailed off before 5 out
mid-division, pushed along halfway, never dangerous
led from before 3rd, every chance 4 out, looking held in 3rd when fell 3 out
Alary could join stablemates Thistlecrack, Cue Card and Native River in the Gold Cup if running well here. His form in France was out of the top drawer, including a second in a Grade 1 at Auteuil when last seen in November. But he is giving away plenty of weight to some useful staying chasers, including BRISTOL DE MAI. Still only six, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge is weighted to reverse Newcastle form with Otago Trail and holds Bishops Road and Virak on the form book so can end a frustrating sequence of seconds. Definitly Red won the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby and several recent winners have used that race as a springboard for this. But he was also behind the selection at Gosforth Park and is worse off at the weights. Vintage Clouds represents last year’s winning stable and probably has more to offer. But he is 6lb out of the handicap and this is a tough race for a maiden to be winning. Sausalito Sunrise could be about to hit the form but is still 5lb higher than his last winning mark.
Alary (FR) (10-10) 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Milord Thomas (10-10) at Auteuil 3m 3f sft in Nov.
Sausalito Sunrise (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, slightly hampered 5 out, headway next, ridden and no impression after 3 out, 5th of 12, 14 3/4l behind Theatre Guide (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Dec.
Bristol De Mai (FR) 7-2 (11-11) Led, pressed and not fluent 3 out, ridden before 2 out, headed before last, kept on, 2nd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Otago Trail (11-3) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Virak (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, weakened from 6 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Otago Trail (11-3) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Otago Trail (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Soon disputed lead, slight mistake 4th, hit 9th, soon headed, losing place when mistake 11th, pulled up before 3 out, at Leopardstown 3m Yielding in Dec.
Seventh Sky (GER) 25-1 (11-8) Prominent, lost place 11th, 6th when fell next, at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Definitly Red (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up, headway 11th, led 4 out, clear when not fluent 2 out, driven out, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) gs in Dec beating Wakanda (11-8) by 7l, 10 ran.
Bishops Road (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, hit 12th, not fluent and lost place next, mistake 17th, weakening 11th 5 out, 10th of 20, dist behind Native River (11-12) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
O Maonlai (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Patiently ridden and waited with towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders before 4 out, 2nd next, led 2 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Warriors Tale (11-2) by 5l, 16 ran.
Firebird Flyer (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway before 14th, 4th 5 out, no extra from 3 out, 8th of 20, dist behind Native River (11-12) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Katenko (FR) 40-1 (10-6) Chased leader, dropped to mid-division 17th, fell 22nd (2nd bechers), at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Gevrey Chambertin (FR) 11-1 (11-11) Led to 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, dist behind Milborough (10-3) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Berea Boru (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Mid-division when leaving start, towards rear when in view after 5th, behind when in view after 9th, pulled up after, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 13-8fav (11-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, chased winner from 6th, challenged before 4 out, kept on from next held from last, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Delusionofgrandeur (11-2) at Catterick 3m 1f (3) gs in Dec.
