held up in rear, headway 2 out, never nearer
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, every chance 2 out, no extra after last
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, soon lost place
in touch, weakened 5 out
always in rear
held up in rear, headway from 3 out, every chance last, stayed on strongly to lead closing stages
in touch, headway to lead 4 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 3 out, led 2 out, headed just after last, no extra flat
mid-division, headway 3 out, every chance next, led just after last, headed towards finish, kept on
led, mistake 3rd, headed 4 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
Mulligan's Man heads the weights but is likely to need this but Calaf and Hi Tide have the ability to get involved. PURPLE 'N GOLD looks to set a decent standard for the rest to aim at. The Pipe inmate has been in good form on the last four starts, including a Kempton success under today's amateur pilot. The gelding was seen in action just six days ago when a commendable third to Honour System at Newton Abbot and a repeat of that level would suffice. Dark And Dangerous is one to note from the lower depths of the handicap as he receives weight from all bar one of his rivals and hasn't been doing too badly on the Flat of late but Dazinski has been disappointing so far over timber.
Mulligan's Man (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 6, 50l behind Yorkist (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan.
Purple 'n Gold (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 4th, left in lead 3 out, headed soon after, chasing winner and still chance 2 out, well held before last, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Honour System (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd.
Calaf 14-1 (10-6) Prominent, led when not fluent 5th, stumbled on bend soon after, headed 2 out, weakened well before last, 8th of 9, 31l behind Roman Flight (11-7) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Descaro (USA) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in last pair, not fluent and pushed along 6th, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Irish Buccaneer (11-9) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Gud Day (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders on outside, jumped left 2nd, closed 5th, outpaced 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, weakened into 3rd before last, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Engai (11-2) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in May.
Hi Tide (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, never a factor, 9th of 12, 20l behind Minella Reception (11-8) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf.
Faith Jicaro (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 9, 9l behind Don Padeja (11-6) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Dazinski 18-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th until after next, ridden and lost place briefly after 6th, weakening when blundered 3 out, 8th of 9, 48l behind Tantamount (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Ladies Dancing 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 39l behind Elmore Back (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in May.
Dark And Dangerous (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, went left and bumped 7th, soon pushed along, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, 42l behind The Informant (10-2) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
My Farmer Girl 20-1 (10-1) Held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 12l behind Sinbad The Sailor (11-10) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf.
Powderonthebonnet (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Towards rear, headway after 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Vyta Du Roc (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in May.
