chased leaders, hit 11th and ridden, pushed along after 4 out, went 2nd briefly before next, weakened into 4th 2 out
soon well adrift in rear, mistake 3rd, went right next, mistake 9th, headway on outside before 3 out, 6th lengths 2nd last, kept on run-in, never able to reach heavily eased winner
led at strong pace, headed approaching 6th, chased winner until ridden after 4 out, chased leaders, weakened quickly before next, behind and pulled up before 2 out
last pair, pushed along and struggling after 8th, headway into 4th before 3 out, 3rd 2 out, kept on run-in, and closed on heavily eased winner, never able to challenge
raced keenly, chased leader at strong pace, led approaching 6th, 6 lengths clear going strongly last, heavily eased towards finish
held up in rear, headway chasing leaders 6th, 2nd travelling ok after 4 out, no impression when lost 2nd before next, weakened quickly
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 11th, no chance when pecked 3 out
The four-year-old Monsieur Co looks to be facing a stiff task on his reappearance and Ridgeway Flyer should give a boost to Resolution Bay's Plumpton second last month in the opener. It's more than a year since Princeton Royale was last seen on a racecourse and Sporting Boy had his limitations exposed at Cheltenham last time but Theatrical Star was still in touch and going well when falling at Aintree and shouldn't be far away with a clear round. NOTARFBAD gets the nod, however, as he's slipped down the weights this year and has his ground again.
Sporting Boy (IRE) 8-1 (12-5) Tracked leaders, led 16th, hit 3 out, driven and headed before next, soon no chance with winner, weakened flat, 8th of 17, 15 3/4l behind What Happens Now (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Resolution Bay 8-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway after 12th, led 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Ridgeway Flyer (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Princeton Royale (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Led, not fluent 7th, hit 11th, headed next, one pace 3 out, weakened from next, 3rd of 9, 29l behind Thomas Brown (10-13) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Theatrical Star 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders on outside, close up when fell 5 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Notarfbad (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, chased winner, well held before the last, held on for 2nd, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Orbasa (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Monsieur Co (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened 3 out, left very remote 3rd briefly at the last, 4th of 6, dist behind Coo Star Sivola (11-12) at Warwick 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb.
Fear Glic (IRE) 50-1 (10-2) Towards rear most of way, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
