close 3rd out wide, went 2nd at 10th, led after 3 out, came clear between last two, stayed on strongly
jumped left at times, tracked leader, led 8th, pushed along and headed after 3 out, chased winner, ridden between last two, stayed on same pace and no chance with winner, weakened and lost two places when mistake last
soon off the pace in rear, went left at 7th, tailed off 4 out, never a factor
waited with in rear, closer in 4th after 10th, hit 14th, went 3rd approaching the last, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
raced keenly, held up in last trio, headway on inside into 3rd and went left 15th, went 2nd before the last, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
made most, jumped slowly and headed briefly 4th, headed 8th, chased leader until 10th, chased leaders, hit next, not fluent 16th, weakened and struggling next, tailed off 4 out
Wishing And Hoping may be a teenager but he won the final of last year’s series in January when Saint Xavier was fifth. LARRY was a winner over course and distance as recently as November and was second at Newbury last month, despite making mistakes. Ruthless Article was engaged in the 4.37 at Stratford yesterday but the classy Two For Gold is interesting running in one of these veteran chases for the first time.
Two For Gold (IRE) 80-1 (11-13) In touch after 2nd, closed 8th, mistake 11th, ridden next, weakened after 4 out, 18th of 23, dist behind Seddon (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Wishing And Hoping (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Led, pressed for lead before 3 out where ridden, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last where not fluent, last of 4, dist behind Empire Steel (11-2) at Kelso 2m 7f lst (1) gs in Mar.
Ruthless Article (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Chased leader, ridden after 3 out, led last, driven out flat, won at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Jul beating Little Bruce (11-2) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Larry 7-2 (11-2) Held up last, closer in 4th at 5th, went 3rd at 12th, dropped to rear again 15th, pushed along and headway out wide 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, hung left and held run-in, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Cyclop (10-11) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Run To Milan (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Led until before 8th, chased leader until 10th, chased leaders, ridden along out wide turning in, weakened soon after, 7th of 9, dist behind Mucho Mas (11-4) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Saint Xavier (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 4th, bumped next, towards rear and never on terms after, 8th of 10, 23l behind Cyclop (11-11) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
