occasionaly jumped left, tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, ridden before last, driven out run-in
always in rear, never a factor, tailed off
tracked leading trio, went 3rd 5th until approaching 3 out, ridden and went 3rd again between last two, dropped to 4th towards finish
held up in 5th, hit 9th, pushed along in 3rd after 3 out, ridden and one pace when dropped to 4th between last two, went 3rd again towards finish
tracked leading pair until 5th, blundered and lost place next, never on terms after, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up in last pair, tracking leading trio after 4 out, travelling well in 2nd after next, ridden before the last, driven and stayed on same pace run-in
led and set good pace, headed before 3 out, weakened before next, blundered last
Bold Henry won this last year but is still 4lb higher having failed to sparkle since. He was pulled up behind Bright New Dawn at Punchestown in April but the former Gordon Elliott inmate is having his first run today for Venetia Williams and has been off the track since August. Bold Henry’s stablemate GARDE LA VICTOIRE was only headed in the shadows of the post in a Grade 2 at Exeter before reverting to hurdles at Ascot. Eight of his 11 career wins have come over this trip and he has the class to defy top weight. De Faoithesdream was still clear when falling three out at Cheltenham in a race in which Savello also came to grief. He could be a danger granted a clear round while Ulck Du Lin is starting to come down the weights. Hollywoodien has a good strike rate over fences but may be a shade high in the weights now.
Garde La Victoire (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Led, headed before 2 out, mistake and lost 2nd 2 out, chased leading pair, ridden and no impression between last 2, just held on for modest 3rd, 3rd of 5, 10 3/4l behind Yanworth (11-4) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) gs in Nov.
Savello (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Held up last, mistake 1st, left modest 3rd at 2nd, jumped left 4th and next, soon well outpaced, mistake 6th, soon tailed off, 3rd of 4, dist behind Special Tiara (11-0) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Dec.
Bright New Dawn (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Chased leader early, soon settled 3rd, disputed 2nd from 6th, 2nd after 4 out, slight mistake 3 out and soon ridden in 3rd, no impression next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 4, 11 3/4l behind Simenon (11-10) at Cork 3m Yielding in Aug.
Hollywoodien (FR) 4-1 (11-9) With leader, led 4th, clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Astracad (11-9) by 5l, 8 ran.
Ulck Du Lin (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Tracked leading pair on outside, left in 2nd place 4th, led bypassing omitted 6th, clear before 9th until before 4 out, headed soon after 2 out, lost at the last, weakened run-in, 5th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Ultragold (10-13) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Bold Henry 14-1 (11-11) Held up behind, headway after 4 out, driven and outpaced after next, never on terms, weakened before last, 6th of 9, 13 1/2l behind Un Beau Roman (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
De Faoithesdream (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Led, clear 10th, about 10 lengths ahead when fell 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
