in touch, chased leader 9th to next, soon pushed along, weakened 4 out, tailed off
held up towards rear in touch when fell 5th
held up in touch, headway to go 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, driven clear between last 2, ridden and edged left flat, stayed on well
tracked leader, led after 7th, driven and headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, lost 2nd approaching last, no impresion with leading pair flat
held up in rear in touch, close up 8th, 4th and outpaced before 2 out, chased winner approaching last, ridden and stayed on flat, always held
held up in touch, dropped to rear when hit 9th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, chased leader 10th to 4 out, ridden and outpaced after next, no impression from 2 out
led to after 7th, 5th and in touch when fell 9th
Tartak won this 12 months ago but has 10lb more to carry this time around and is facing better opposition. The Nightingale stopped quickly on his reappearance at Down Royal but the drop in distance should suit, though he also faces a stiff task at the weights while Gauvain and Tchico Polos' best form is over 2m. Surfing has more scope than most but Henrietta Knight regularly targets this Grade 2 contest and has trained the winner in five of the last 10 years. She appears to hold all the aces again with SOMERSBY, who gave Master Minded a run for his money at Ascot last month having won over this trip at Kempton previously. A genuine Grade 1 performer, he should be too good for Mr Moonshine and Hidden Keel.
Tartak (FR) (10-3) 8th of 9, 49l behind La Segnora (10-1) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 5f hdl gs in Nov.
The Nightingale (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, improved to dispute 4 out, slight mistake 3 out and soon ridden in close 2nd, no extra from last, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Quito De La Roque (11-10) at Down Royal 3m Grade 1 chs (1) sft in Nov.
Gauvain (GER) 7-1 (11-7) Held up behind in main group, 7th and in touch when fell 8th, in a race won by Sizing Europe (11-7) at Sandown 2m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs, 7 ran.
Mr Moonshine (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Made all, ridden approaching 4 out, in command when edged left approaching last, stayed on well, won at Haydock 2m 6f nov chs (2) gd in Nov beating Bold Addition (11-1) by 10l, 4 ran.
Somersby (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) Tracked leading trio, headway to 2nd at 8th, led 11th, ridden and headed 2 out, switched left before last, held when hit last, kept on flat, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Master Minded (11-11) at Ascot 2m 3f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Tchico Polos (FR) 10-3 (11-1) Tracked winner, ridden after last, weakened and lost 2nd place run-in, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Stagecoach Pearl (10-4) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Nov.
Hidden Keel 8-13fav (11-4) With winner, no impression from 4 out, 2nd of 6, 16l behind Mr Moonshine (10-8) at Carlisle 2m 4f int chs (2) gs in Oct.
Surfing (FR) 4-11fav (11-5) Held up in last pair, not fluent 2nd, went 3rd after next, went 2nd and closed on clear leader 7th, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, no extra and headed final 150 yards, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Tail Of The Bank (11-0) at Chepstow 2m beg chase (4) sft in Feb.
