chased winner to 2 out, soon outpaced
made all, clear 2 out comfortably
towards rear, headway 3 out, went 2nd next, no chance with winner
prominent, pushed along and lost place after 6th, no danger after
behind, outpaced halfway, soon made headway
held up in rear, reminders halfway, never dangerous
in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon no extra
The selection here is Ever So Slightly, with best of the rest suggested as Prince Among Men and Gabor. French import Sybellius d' Artaix has yet to cut it in three runs in Britain. Kadount showed a bit more sparkle last time but is a power in decline, while Prince Among Men appreciated the quick conditions to score last time and, coming here in good heart, he could go well again. Gabor has it to prove in terms of winning from his current mark but, with the opposition looking modest, he cannot be ruled out, and his stable companion Ever So Slightly is lightly raced and has shown steady improvement, although he has yet to race on going as quick as it is likely to be today. That said, aside from that, he has a likeable profile for the race. Finally, Count Fosco will need to turn the clock back a couple of years if he is to feature, while My Good Lord is another that has to fully prove his winning capability from his career-high mark. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Ever So Slightly.
Sybellius D'artaix (FR) 150-1 (9-8) Behind, hampered 2nd, ridden 17th, soon weakened and pulled up in race won by Hot Weld (9-9) at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr, 23 ran.
Kadount (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Held up, hit 6th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 5, 11l behind Petit Lord (11-0) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Apr.
Prince Among Men 7-2 (10-2) Held up in rear, ridden and outpaced 7th, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Apr beating Go Solo (10-9) by 3l, 4 ran.
Gabor 9-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, reminders and lost place 9th, outpaced 3 out, ridden and kept on from next, no impression, 6th of 8, 12l behind Negus de Beaumont (10-5) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Ever So Slightly (IRE) 7-2 (10-0) Chased leader until outpaced from 7th, 3rd of 4, 24l behind Otto des Pictons (11-3) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl (2) gf in Apr.
Count Fosco 6-1 (11-6) In touch, lost place 7th, hit 12th, outpaced 3 out, beaten when refused at the last in race won by Rival Bidder (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
My Good Lord (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, effort approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on to go 3rd last, no impression, 3rd of 11, 12l behind Brave Rebellion (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
