held up towards rear, jumped slowly 2nd, went left next, dropped to rear 4th, headway before the last, stayed on into modest 4th in closing stages
held up towards rear, hampered 4th, no headway from 2 out
tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out where not fluent, ridden and weakened between last two
chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out, plugged on same pace, went 3rd 2 out until the last, lost modest 4th in closing stages
held up in rear, travelling well enough after 3 out, no impression next
led, pushed clear before 2 out until ridden between last two, slightly hampered by loose horse approaching the last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, kept on for clear 2nd
tracked leaders until blundered and unseated rider 4th
took keen hold, tracked leader until after 4th, chased leaders, went modest 3rd at the last
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4th, weakening when fell 2 out
held up towards rear, headway travelling well after 3 out, 2nd on bit 2 out, switched left approaching last, ridden to lead run-in, soon clear
held up towards rear, pushed along after 4th, soon struggling, weakened 3 out
Nonrunner
A very competitive finale in which Leviathan is bidding for a double. He's actually a pound lower than last year though his form went to pieces after and, along with Desert Recluse, he was well behind RAYVIN BLACK at Sandown in January. Oliver Sherwood's charge was beaten less than a length in the Imperial Cup later and will be all the better for a run around Kempton behind The New One so gets a tentative vote. Three Kingdoms looks high enough in the weights on his reappearance but Brian Ellison will have been delighted by Forest Bihan's run at Ayr and Cloonacool wasn't beaten far here last time after winning a Listed handicap at Market Rasen in September. Nesterenko has been knocking on the door and War Singer is fit from the Flat but Crickel Wood is upped a couple of grades while Winner Massagot hasn't raced since falling at Aintree in April.
Three Kingdoms (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) In rear, slow 1st, blundered 5th, not fluent next, niggled along after 11th, not fluent 4 out, soon ridden and outpaced, no extra before 2 out, 5th of 6, 37 3/4l behind Clarcam (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Forest Bihan (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led before 2 out, headed run-in, kept on, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Aristo Du Plessis (10-3) at Ayr 2m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Cloonacool (IRE) 9-2fav (10-9) Towards rear, hit 3 out, some headway approaching last, no impression run-in, 5th of 11, 5 1/2l behind Nabucco (10-5) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
Starluck (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, effort 4 out, no impression 2 out, 9th of 17, 14 3/4l behind Court Minstrel (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
War Singer (USA) 50-1 (8-12) Always behind, 8th of 9, 12 3/4l behind Osipova (8-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Rayvin Black 10-1 (11-0) Led and set steady pace, headed before 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 5, 10l behind The New One (11-8) at Kempton 2m lst (1) gd in Oct.
Nesterenko (GER) 5-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway 2 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Baron Alco (10-13) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Leviathan 25-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, soon weakened, tailed off before 3 out, pulled up after, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Crickel Wood (FR) 8-1fav (11-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, soon switched right, led and edged right flat, ran on well, won at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Orthodox Lad (11-3) by 2 3/4l, 17 ran.
Winner Massagot (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, towards rear when fell last, at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Desert Recluse (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Chased leader, led 4th until 5th, ridden after 3 out, one pace when squeezed out before 2 out, well held in 4th last, 4th of 8, 12l behind Satanic Beat (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Satanic Beat (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Took keen hold, settled in touch after 2nd, headway approaching 2 out, weakened between last two, 8th of 11, 10l behind Nabucco (10-5) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
