held up mid-division, lost touch over 4f out, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway to chase leader 7f out, ridden and every chance 3f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
held up behind, ridden 5f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 6f out, never reached leaders
held up towards rear, some moderate headway 4f out, never dangerous
close up, ridden to lead over 2f out, soon quickened clear, comfortable
held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
always behind, tailed off 3f out
held up towards rear, ridden 6f out, soon beaten
behind, never dangerous
held up, kept on final 2f, never nearer
held up behind, kept on final 2f, not troubled leader
held up midfield, pushed along 5f out, soon weakened, tailed off final 3f
held up towards rear, some headway final 2f, never nearer
held up, effort to chase leaders 3f out, kept on same pace final 2f
tracked leaders, ridden over 6f out, weakened quickly, soon tailed off
held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace final 2f
held up in touch, ridden 6f out, soon weakened
led, quickened clear half way, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened soon afterwards
slowly into stride, always in rear, tailed off over 3f out
held up midfield, ridden over 3f out, weakened
held up midfield, ridden and weakened over 4f out, soon tailed off
held up behind, never dangerous
prominent, ridden and effort over 3f out, soon one pace
in rear, plenty to do 4f out, headway 3f out, stayed on well from over 1f out, nearest finish
took keen hold, held up in touch, under pressure, weakened over 4f out
Making it onto the shortlist for this race are Got One Too, Don Fernando, Riyadh, Mana d'Argent, Random Quest, Double Obsession, Sentry and Numitas with Got One Too getting the call. Let's start with a few stats on this specialist race. Since 1998, Martin Pipe has won it twice, in each of the last two years, and has had a horse at least placed in it in all runnings except 1999. This year his best chance could lie with Don Fernando, who was seventh last year and now races from a five-pound lower mark. Pipe saddled Riyadh to score in 2002 but that horse is now with Mark Johnston. As he is now rated 68 and won this from a mark of 88, he can go well although he is, of course not the force of old. In that 2002 running, Establishment (now 10lbs worse off) was second, Mana d'Argent (now 29lbs worse off) was third, and Random Quest (now 14lbs worse off) was fourth. Of course, a lot can happen to a horse in two years but these stats hold some interest, as does the fact that Mana d'Argent was an unlucky-in-running sixth in this race last year from a four-pound lower mark, and he was also placed in it in 2001. Johnston also runs Double Obsession, who is now rated 83 but has won over 12 furlongs from a mark of 91. He warmed up for this with a fair run over two miles at Haydock 10 days ago. A visor, that was left off on that occasion, is now back on. Sentry finished four-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of him that day and is now four-pounds worse off but, only lightly-raced and representing the John Gosden stable that won this race in 1999 with High And Mighty, who was also ridden by Frankie Dettori, it would be folly to leave him off your list of possibles for this contest. The same applies to Nicky Henderson's Got One Too, given that the trainer's record with his Flat runners is quite remarkable, and Philip Hobbs Chester Cup eighth Numitas, a race in which Mana d'Argent was fifth and Random Quest seventh. Got One Too warmed up for this race with a good run at this track, from which he is closely weighted with Don Fernando and Land 'N' Stars. Given that Irish trainers have won this twice, Dermot Weld's Amid The Chaos, who is visored for the first-time today, can be given a chance, while Hernandita was not far behind Riyadh at Pontefract last time. Add to the list John Dunlop's Queen's Prize runner-up, Teresa, and Stef Liddiard's Malarkey, whose rider, Kieren Fallon, has won two and finished second in the last three runnings of this race, and you get a further flavour of the competitive nature of this race. All in all, though, we are happy to side with Nicky Henderson, a master trainer under either code, and give the vote to Got One Too.
