in touch in mid-division, lost place 7th, well beaten 3 out
mid-division, raced keenly, headway 7th, went 3rd 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression on winner
held up towards rear, headway from 7th, chasing leaders 3 out, no impression 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, effort next, mistake when weakening 3 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, went 2nd after 3 out, edged left before last, switched right and made mistake at last, no impression on winner flat
held up towards rear, headway when not fluent 7th, chasing leaders 3 out, no impression next
held up in rear, well beaten before 3 out, mistake 2 out
mid-division, raced keenly, lost place before 7th, soon behind
led or disputed lead until after 2nd, prominent, led after 7th, headed 3 out, weakened next
always in rear
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
prominent, led 3 out, edged left before jumping right and not fluent 2 out, edged left before last, clear flat, stayed on
mid-division, weakened from 7th
made most until after 7th, weakening when mistake 3 out
always in rear, behind after 7th, pulled up before 2 out
Any market interest in Dark Episode should be noted but RED ROYALIST (NAP) went clear with a younger and more progressive rival on the Flat at York last month. Twice a winner over timber, he’s been dropped 2lb since last racing over hurdles and this is his trip. Shetland Bus did well for Justin Landy last season while Petit Palais was more like his old self over 2m here last month and would probably still finished ahead of Story Of Friends had that one not fallen at the last. Storm Home has slipped to a fair mark but may need this.
Phoenician Star (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) In rear, jumped left at times and not always fluent, well beaten 3 out, 8th of 11, 28 1/4l behind Dear Sire (11-4) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Storm Home (IRE) 8-1 (11-13) Prominent, ridden before 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 15, 23 1/4l behind Caswell Bay (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Story Of Friends (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Mid-division, went left 2nd, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden after next, fell last, at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Shetland Bus (GER) 9-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, switched left before 2 out, no extra flat, 8th of 14, 8 1/4l behind Sermando (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Red Royalist 9-2 (9-1) In touch, headway 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Monsieur Lambrays (9-7) at York 2m hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Petit Palais 10-1 (11-4) Held up in last pair, good headway chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden to lead before next, headed last, one pace and lost 2nd final 75 yards, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Get Back Get Back (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Meldrum Lad (IRE) 40-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, ridden and well beaten 3 out, 8th of 12, 30 3/4l behind Imperial Elysian (11-6) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Dark Episode (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway from 7th, 2nd 2 out, pressing winner flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Demon Fou (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Minella Mojo (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Led, soon joined, mistake 4 out, headed after next, weakened 2 out, 9th of 17, 28 1/2l behind I'd Better Go Now (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Fire Away (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 4th approaching 5th, no extra from before straight, pulled up before last, at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Mar.
Mix Of Clover 14-1 (11-11) Prominent, challenged 7th, weakened on last bend, 9th of 13, 33 3/4l behind No Getaway (11-12) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Vancouver 28-1 (11-8) In touch in mid-division on outside, not fluent 1st, mistake 3rd, not fluent 5th, effort after 3 out, jumped right and mistake 2 out and last, no extra flat, 5th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Gavrocheka (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Kuiper Belt (USA) 80-1 (10-0) Rear of mid-division on outside, well beaten from 3 out, 8th of 9, 34 1/4l behind Highly Prized (11-1) at Southwell 2m hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Flintrock (GER) 18-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, not fluent 4th, shaken up and beaten 2 out, no extra, 5th of 12, 18l behind Tel'art (11-1) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Mi Laddo (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Behind, mistake and unseated rider 1st, at Southwell 2m hcp (5) gd in Aug.
