mid-division, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, driven and beaten before next
towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, no chance when badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out
held up towards rear, switched right before 2 out, driven and one pace in 6th after 2 out, kept on into modest 4th run-in
in touch, headway before 3 out, chased leaders approaching next, 3rd 2 out, driven and one pace between last two, held when went left last
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
held up in rear, fell 1st
always towards rear, never involved
chased leaders, left chasing leading pair and hampered 4th, went 2nd before 2 out, driven and held when blundered last
held up well in rear, plugged on from 2 out, went modest 5th run-in
always towards rear, never involved
held up towards rear, plugging on on inside when badly hampered 2 out, no chance after
mid-division when badly hampered and dropped to rear 4th, stayed on again after 2 out, kept on run-in
reminders and struggling after 4th, always towards rear, tailed off
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, disputing 3rd next, ridden in 4th and no extra between last two, weakened and lost places run-in
chased leaders, left 2nd 4th, ridden and losrt 2nd before 2 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened before the last
always towards rear, never involved, tailed off
held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders before 2 out, disputing 3rd when fell 2 out
led until fell 4th
in touch, hampered 4th, staying on disputing 3rd on inside when blundered then hampered 2 out, not recover
mid-division, staying on just on heels of leaders when badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out
chased leader, left in lead 4th, made rest, clear 2 out, kept on strongly, ridden out
in touch, weakening when hampered 2 out, tailed off
towards rear, slightly hampered 4th, no danger when slightly hampered 2 out
Nonrunner
Calipto beat ACTIVIAL off level weights when the pair met as juveniles back in 2013 but Harry Fry's grey is fancied to come out on top today and land this valuable prize. He ran a cracker, considering his lack of previous action, when third in the Ladbroke at Ascot in December and is confidently expected to reverse that form with runner-up Pine Creek on better terms here. Calipto was a bit disappointing when failing to beat Tiger Roll in receipt of 8lb at Cheltenham in October and hasn't been seen since. Fry also runs the useful Jolly's Cracked It while Fascino Rustico and Ballybolley are other novices who could figure. The latter is trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, who was responsible for last year's shock winner. David Pipe has last year's third Balgarry and the 2013 fifth Swing Bowler in the line-up while Nicky Henderson runs top weight Sign Of A Victory and Vasco Du Ronceray. John Quinn trained the winner in 2011 and also has two runners with Chieftain's Choice looking the stable pick ahead of Forced Family Fun. Aso, Sleepy Haven, On Tour and Lightentertainment are all in terrific form and add to the interest in a typically competitive renewal.
Pine Creek 10-1 (10-9) Held up in mid-division, steady headway approaching 4 out, challenged 2 out, chased winner last, kept on gamely under pressure run-in, gaining near finish, just held, 2nd of 18, nk behind Bayan (11-5) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Dec.
Vasco Du Ronceray (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, led after 3 out, headed narrowly 2 out, regained lead last, ridden run-in, kept on strongly, won at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating De Boitron (11-12) by 5l, 8 ran.
Calipto (FR) 4-5fav (10-12) Led, clear 2nd, not fluent 5th or 2 out, reduced lead when mistake last, driven and pressed flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Tiger Roll (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo hdl (2) gs in Oct.
Activial (FR) 7-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, every chance when pecked 2 out, ridden between last two, kept on into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 18, 2l behind Bayan (11-5) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Dec.
Aso (FR) 6-4fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, soon with leader, led before last, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Kiama Bay (11-8) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Goodwood Mirage (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before next, in a race won by Bayan (11-5) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Sleepy Haven (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Held up in last trio, headway on outside before 2 out, chased leading pair 2 out, 2nd before the last, upsides last, led run-in, soon clear and stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Jan beating War Singer (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Cheltenian (FR) 13-2 (10-12) Soon tracked leaders in 3rd, blundered 6 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 6, 19l behind Josses Hill (10-12) at Doncaster 2m nov chs (4) gd in Jan.
Jolly's Cracked It (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, chased winner from approaching 2 out, ridden and readily held between last 2, 2nd of 4, 14l behind L'ami Serge (11-7) at Sandown 2m nov hdl G1 (1) sft in Jan.
Amore Alato 9-4fav (11-8) Off the pace in 5th, driven and struggling in 6th after 3 out, went moderate 5th before next, 5th of 11, 17l behind Rayvin Black (9-10) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft in Jan.
Wicklow Brave 11-2 (11-5) Held up in 5th, ridden and weakened before 2 out, last of 8, 41l behind L'ami Serge (10-7) at Newbury 2m Lstd hcp hdl 0-155 (1) sft in Nov.
Arzal (FR) 11-4 (11-5) Led, headed approaching 2out, no extra, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Jollyallan (11-8) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Bordoni (USA) 8-1 (11-8) Held up in last trio, modest 6th and struggling 3 out, never involved, 7th of 10, 37l behind Silsol (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft in Nov.
On Tour (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, smooth headway before 3 out, led run-in, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov beating Run Ructions Run (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Balgarry (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Wore ear plugs, chased clear leading pair, closed 5th went 2nd before 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace run-in, never able to get to winner, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Rayvin Black (9-10) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft in Jan.
Swing Bowler 8-1 (11-12) Held up in 5th, some headway after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 8, 15l behind Sleepy Haven (11-6) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Fascino Rustico 11-8 (11-11) Tracked leaders, smooth headway into 2nd 3 out, led next, clear last, ridden out run-in, eased towards finish, stayed on strongly, won at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Zip Top (11-11) by 9l, 9 ran.
Chieftain's Choice (IRE) 8-15fav (11-5) Made all, driven clear from 2 out, unchallenged after, easily, won at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Argent Knight (10-12) by 7l, 14 ran.
Forced Family Fun 5-2fav (11-6) In touch, headway to go 2nd 4 out, led next, not fluent last, ran on well, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov beating Pertuis (9-12) by 5l, 9 ran.
Ebony Express 3-1fav (12-4) Held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, 26l behind Hainan (10-7) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Violet Dancer 10-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on inside, left in 5 lengths 2nd when slithered on landing last, strong run flat and closing near finish, just failed, 2nd of 11, shd behind Cloonacool (10-11) at Kempton 2m (3) sft in Dec.
Ballybolley (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) With leader, mistake 5th, lost place after 4 out, ridden and one pace in 3rd after 2 out, kept on, no impression flat, 3rd of 11, 5l behind A Boy Named Suzi (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Lightentertainment (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) Towards rear, last and behind before last (normal 2 out), soon ridden, headway bypassing omitted last, edged left flat, stayed on well, led towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan beating Dell' Arca (11-12) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Sign Of A Victory (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway and in touch 4out, outpaced after next, 4th of 6, 31l behind Faugheen (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Dec.
