held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, led before last, kept on strongly
in rear, ridden before and mistake 2 out, never a factor
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, soon every chance, ridden before 2 out, in 4th when hit last, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led before 3 out, ridden and hit 2 out, in 3rd from last, no extra and lost 3rd close home
tracked leaders, weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
held up mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on to take 3rd place close home
tracked leader, ridden before last, weakened run-in
held up mid-division, headway 4 out to chase leaders, weakened before 2 out
in touch, reminder before 5 out, ridden before last, soon weakened
always towards rear, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, every chance 2 out, chased winner before last, kept on and always well held
held up in touch, lost place before 4 out, tailed off
led, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up mid-division, ridden and weakened after 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before last
in rear, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on and no impression
NonRunner
NonRunner
NonRunner
NonRunner
NonRunner
A bumper entry for the finale, which looks wide-open as usual. Thunder Sheik has been in good form lately, winning at Haydock and Newbury. Boite will probably have needed last month's second at Newbury and is closely matched with Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge on collateral form. War Singer has run well in big fields like this in the past while there is probably more to come from Always Resolute and he'll enjoy conditions but Allee Bleue was only fifth off this mark on his only previous start in a handicap while the assessor has taken no chances with the lightly-raced Automated. ALL SET TO GO, on the other hand, could probably have been given a few pounds more after getting back to winning ways at Taunton. He's had just the four runs over hurdles so may still be on an upward curve and looks better treated than stable companion Frodon. Nesterenko and Madfuninthewest looks the pick of the remainder.
Ivan Grozny (FR) 40-1 (11-3) Towards rear, outpaced on outside last (usual 2 out), headway under pressure approaching omitted last, ridden and kept on flat, never nearer, 8th of 26, 11 1/4l behind Superb Story (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Sgt Reckless 33-1 (10-8) Towards rear of mid-division, pushed along 2 out, never on terms, weakened last, 19th of 26, 17 1/4l behind Diamond King (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Nabucco 28-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, one pace before omitted last, weakened, 14th of 24, 25 1/2l behind Ibis Du Rheu (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Boite (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) In touch, headway to join leader after 4th, led approaching next, headed before 2 out, stayed on under pressure, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Gala Ball (11-5) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Allee Bleue (IRE) 1-4fav (11-12) Made all, hit 3 out, drew clear before next, unchallenged after, went right last, pushed out, very easily, won at Huntingdon 2m (4) sft in Mar beating Monsart (10-7) by 27l, 5 ran.
Dell' Arca (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Always behind, weakened after 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Bigmartre (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) With leader, led 4th, headed when mistake 3 out, rallied after next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Karinga Dancer (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Frodon (FR) 20-1 (11-0) In touch, driven after 2 out, kept on same pace before last, never on terms with leaders, 8th of 15, 16 3/4l behind Ivanovich Gorbatov (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
Madfuninthewest (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to challenge before straight, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 18, 7 1/2l behind Bello Conti (11-4) at Clonmel 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Nesterenko (GER) 7-4 (11-10) Took keen hold, held up, headway on inside tracking leaders after 4th, challenged last, went 2nd after the last, hard ridden run-in, led towards finish, won at Taunton 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Vicenzo Mio (11-9) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Master Jake (IRE) 10-3 (12-0) Made all, quickened pace after 3rd and soon clear until 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) sft in Mar beating Eyes Of A Tiger (11-7) by 6l, 6 ran.
Automated 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, a little keen, 2nd at 6th, mistake 3 out, soon 3rd, one pace from between last 2, 3rd of 6, 7 1/4l behind Lift The Latch (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m sft in Mar.
Sir Ector (USA) 50-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along and no impression in 7th 2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 15l behind Heartbreak City (9-0) at Cork 1m 2f hcp hvy in Mar.
Chieftain's Choice (IRE) 66-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, weakened quickly after 4 out, pulled up before next, at Newbury 2m hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
My Manekineko 6-1 (9-1) Towards rear, 12th halfway, progress between horses 2f out, switched right and went 3rd 1f out, under pressure and kept on well inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 14, shd behind Temasek Star (9-12) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Feb.
Mr Boss Man (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 2f out, no impression in 5th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 8, 3l behind Carried (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Mar.
Sir Chauvelin 2-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, reached for 3rd, pushed along before next, ridden after 4 out, dropped to well held 4th when not fluent 3 out, went 3rd again last, hung right flat, stayed on, no chance with winner, 3rd of 4, 13 3/4l behind Tommy Silver (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
Always Resolute 4-6fav (11-6) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led before 2 out, blundered and headed last, no extra after, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Eastview Boy (11-0) at Newcastle 2m (4) hvy in Mar.
Tempo Mac (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, slight mistakes 1st and 4th, pushed along briefly approaching straight, soon under pressure again, 5th 2 out, no impression and one pace after, 6th of 9, 16 1/2l behind Lilshane (10-3) at Navan 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Thunder Sheik (IRE) 7-2 (10-9) In touch, driven to challenge approaching 3 out, every chance when not fluent 2 out, led before last, ran on well, won at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr beating Gala Ball (11-12) by 3l, 7 ran.
War Singer (USA) 9-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 7, 24l behind Sea Wall (11-0) at Taunton 2m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
All Set To Go (IRE) 2-1 (11-6) Tracked leading pair, went 2nfd 4th, challenged last, stayed on to lead narrrowly final 150 yards, on top close home, driven out, won at Taunton 2m (4) gd in Mar beating Banyu (11-6) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
