pressed leader, led 4th, ridden after 12th, headed and blundered 4 out, soon weakened, beaten when pulled up before last
held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway 10th, chased leading pair 4 out, pressed leader 3 out, close up 2 out, driven to lead last, stayed on strongly flat
held up in rear, mistake 11th, ridden before 4 out, headway to chase leading pair 3 out, well behind leaders 2 out, stayed on under pressure from last, nearest finish
led, headed 4th, lost ground 7th, ridden before 10th, weakened into rear 11th, pulled up before 12th
midfield, headway 8th, ridden and lost ground 4 out, well beaten 2 out, came home in own time
keen in midfield, lost touch 12th, blundered 13th, pulled up before 4 out
prominent, led 4 out, ridden 3 out, narrow advantage 2 out, headed last, stayed on flat
held up in rear, ridden after 11th, tailed off 12th, pulled up before 4 out
Dashel Drasher won this last year but this is a much stronger renewal and he couldn’t repel the late thrust of Two For Gold at Lingfield last month, though is 6lb better off with the winner. Waiting Patiently hasn’t won since landing this in 2018 and has questions to answer now while Lostintranslation was 14 lengths behind Saint Calvados in the King George, though fared better than subsequent Kempton winner Mister Fisher who was pulled up. The form of the latter's win was franked at Newbury last week, however, so Nicky Henderson’s charge is no forlorn hope over his best trip. FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES has solid form at the highest level and has the highest rating of these. He had Fanion D'estruval well behind at The Festival last year, though Venetia Williams’ gelding didn’t give his true running that day and has improved again this season.
Dashel Drasher 6-4fav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, led 5th, narrowly headed before 3 out, rallied gamely last, strong challenge close home, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Two For Gold (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 6f (2) hvy in Jan.
Fakir D'Oudairies (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leader when mistake 1st and dropped to rear, 4th halfway, some headway in 3rd 3 out, 2nd and pushed along early straight, no impression on winner approaching last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Allaho (11-12) at Thurles 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Jan.
Fanion D'estruval (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Raced wide tracking leaders, tracked leading pair at 5th, went 2nd and not fluent 10th, led after next, pushed clear after 3 out, 4 lengths ahead next, reduced lead before the last, headed and no extra final 150 yards, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Phoenix Way (10-7) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Lostintranslation (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) Ran in snatches, mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 12th, weakened next, 5th of 9, 26 1/2l behind Tornado Flyer (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Mister Fisher (IRE) 15-8fav (11-6) Chased front pair throughout, pressed leader before 2 out, pushed along and led before last, stayed on strongly run-in, readily, won at Kempton 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan beating Eldorado Allen (11-6) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Saint Calvados (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Waited with in rear, good headway out wide chasing leaders 12th, led 4 out, headed next, lost 2nd before next, weakened and left modest 3rd at the last, 3rd of 9, 12 1/2l behind Tornado Flyer (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Two For Gold (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Off the pace in 4th, closer in 3rd after 7th, 2nd approaching 12th, led narrowly before 3 out, ridden before the last, strongly pressed and kept on gamely close home, all out, won at Lingfield 2m 6f (2) hvy in Jan beating Dashel Drasher (11-6) by shd, 6 ran.
Waiting Patiently (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Raced in rear, mistake 1st, hampered 13th, struggling and pulled up after 5 out, at Haydock 3m 2f (1) gs in Nov.
