close up, headway and not clear run 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed inside final furlong
tracked leader, led 6f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, stayed on
in touch, weakened quickly 5f out, eased
tracked leaders, chased leader over 3f out until ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, pushed along and headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and weakened final furlong
slowly away always towards rear
held up, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on same pace
close up, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
raced wide held up, pushed along and headway 3f out, no impression from over 1f out
slowly away in rear, never on terms
close up, ridden to chase leader 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong
keen led, steadied pace 12f out, headed 6f out, weakened over 3f out
in touch, headway 4f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on, not reach leaders
raced wide keen held up, weakened 2f out
towards rear, never on terms
NonRunner
Ian Williams won this last year and both Blue Laureate and Mancini need a thorough test of stamina, which they didn't get behind Moon King at Haydock last week. The former was only beaten a head in what was a slowly run affair in which Rochester House, who had finished last in his previous two starts, was a close third. Diocletian won by 11 lengths at Chester in September but is 11lb higher and 1m6f there hardly equates to this track and trip but high-class hurdler Verdana Blue has some very smart form on the level and is certain to attract attention despite a big weight. LAND OF OZ went through the ranks last season winning six times before pulling much too hard in the Cesarewitch. He had a nice warm-up at Chelmsford a week ago and gets the vote though expect a big run from Summer Moon, beaten half-a-length in the latter event.
Verdana Blue (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, headway on outside tracking leaders before 2 out, 4th and one pace from 2 out, 4th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Epatante (11-0) at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Summer Moon 9-1 (9-5) Led, pushed along and headed over 2f out, soon lost 2nd and weakened, last of 4, 18 3/4l behind Trueshan (9-5) at Newbury 1m 5f stks (2) hvy in Oct.
Fair Mountain (GER) 4-1fav (11-4) Chased leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, kept on under pressure closing stages, 2nd of 13, 2 1/4l behind L'Inganno Felice (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Jul.
Dubawi Fifty 13-2 (9-3) Raced wide close up, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 4l behind Raymond Tusk (9-3) at Newcastle 2m stks (2) pol in Dec.
Diocletian (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Held up in mid-division, smooth headway into 3rd over 2f out, led inside final 2f, shaken up and drew readily clear over 1f out, in no danger after, impressive, won at Chester 1m 6f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Celestial Force (8-10) by 11l, 7 ran.
Carntop 25-1 (12-0) In touch in mid-division on inside, stumbled badly on bend before 3 out, never dangerous after, 7th of 12, 10 1/4l behind Back On The Lash (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Yaa Salaam (IRE) 2-1cfav (11-2) Led, joined before 3rd, headed 3 out, ridden and every chance before 2 out, mistake when well held last, no impression, 2nd of 9, 3 3/4l behind Stormy Flight (11-2) at Taunton 2m mdn (4) hvy in Mar.
Cliffs Of Dooneen (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) Led early, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Birds Of Prey (9-12) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Mancini 6-1 (8-12) Led, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 1 1/4l behind Moon King (8-10) at Haydock 2m hcp (2) gs in Jun.
Moon King (FR) 2-1fav (8-10) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon joined, ran on, won at Haydock 2m hcp (2) gs in Jun beating Blue Laureate (8-11) by hd, 6 ran.
Blue Laureate 13-2 (8-11) In touch in rear, pushed along and slightly outpaced 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, joined winner inside final furlong, ran on, just held, 2nd of 6, hd behind Moon King (8-10) at Haydock 2m hcp (2) gs in Jun.
Land Of Oz 13-2 (8-13) Wide early, prominent, led over 11f out, hung right over 4f out, driven over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Collide (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Jun.
Rochester House (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Keen tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 6, 1/2l behind Moon King (8-10) at Haydock 2m hcp (2) gs in Jun.
Coeur de Lion 20-1 (11-6) Prominent, led before and blundered 2 out, soon headed and no extra, 8th of 20, 15 1/4l behind Our Power (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Pianissimo 11-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, no impression, 7th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Collide (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Jun.
Quloob 2-1jfav (10-12) Held up towards rear on outside, not fluent 7th, closed from next, every chance 2 out, not fluent last, one pace, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Go Whatever (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) sft in Nov.
Smart Champion 15-2 (9-1) Steadied in rear, headway over 2f out, switched left to challenge when not clear run over 1f out, stayed on strongly to lead close home, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) pol in Feb beating Carnwennan (9-12) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Ashutor (FR) 4-1 (12-0) In touch, ridden 3 out, weakened next, last of 12, dist behind Nebuchadnezzar (11-4) at Fakenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
San Benedeto (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway tracking leaders 5 out, went 3rd 3 out until weakened between last 2, 4th of 12, 16 3/4l behind Oldgrangewood (10-6) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Charlie D (USA) 2-1fav (10-1) Tracked leader, led over 11f out, headed over 6f out, in front again over 3f out, ridden 2f out, edged right under pressure over 1f out, hung right and stayed on inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Glan Y Gors (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
