mid-division, closed up after 7th, led home turn, ridden after 2 out, pressed when bad mistake last and soon headed, not recover run-in
towards rear, ridden and behind from 9th, pulled up before next
mid-division, dropped towards rear 5th, ridden after next, soon lost touch and pulled up
chased leaders, lost ground jumping 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, pushed along and headway after 4 out, went 2nd home turn, ridden and switched right to challenge after 2 out, led just after last, stayed on
prominent, pushed along and weakened quickly before 3 out
led, pushed along and headed home turn, soon weakened
The day’s feature has attracted a decent line-up including last year’s winner Kauto The King, who is 6lb lower but has been generally out of sorts. Magic Saint has been running in hunter chases since a fourth at Wincanton in January but is well treated on past form. Elios D'Or has a good strike-rate and has only been raised 2lb for winning at Stratford 11 days ago, though was 10 lengths behind the returning Clear The Runway at Worcester in the autumn. LIGHT N STRIKE produced a career-best at Warwick three weeks ago and can give the weight away to these with Geromino yet to recapture last year’s form.
Light N Strike (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, closed to lead before 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m hcp (2) gf in May beating Espion Du Chenet (10-9) by 6l, 6 ran.
Clear The Runway (IRE) 11-4fav (11-3) Held up towards rear on inside, hit 1st and 3rd, headway 7th, niggled along before 3 out, soon held, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 7, 28 1/2l behind Dads Lad (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Geromino (FR) 9-2 (12-0) Prominent, outpaced when bad mistake 3 out and soon beaten, last of 5, 23l behind Bollingerandkrug (10-3) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in May.
Magic Saint (FR) 4-6fav (12-2) Prominent, ridden to lead approaching 9th, pushed along home turn, joined last, headed run-in, kept on but no match for winner, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Kaproyale (12-0) at Stratford 2m 1f (5) gd in Jun.
Noahthirtytwored (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, outpaced final furlong, kept on well close home, 4th of 8, 1 3/4l behind Easy Equation (8-7) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Kauto The King (FR) 7-2 (11-13) Close up and keen early, led before 2nd, went right 8th, headed before 4 out, soon pushed along and lost position, awkward 3 out, ridden before a tired just at last, kept one pace run-in, finished a well held fourth, 4th of 5, dist behind Courtland (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Elios D'Or (FR) 11-4 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd with a circuit to go until 3 out, rallied to lead bypassing omitted last, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Jun beating Admiral's Sunset (10-5) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
