chased leader, left in lead at 5th, headed before 6 out, regained lead before 2 out, ran on well
prominent, mistake 10th, weakened after 3 out
led, mistake and unseated rider 5th
slow 1st and 2nd, in rear, lost touch before 6 out
mid-division, hampered 5th, headway 4 out, went 2nd at bypassed last, ran on
mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 7th
mid-division, headway to chase leader after 5th, led before 6 out, headed before 2 out, weakened after bypassed last
held up in rear, some headway 5 out, no impression after 3 out
in rear, keen early, weakened 4 out
Espoir De Guye looked an exciting novice around this time last year. He’s had wind surgery since disappointing at the Cheltenham Festival in March but is probably high enough in the weights at present. Red Risk only weakened on the run-in on his reappearance at Market Rasen and Earlofthecotswolds is back over fences after a couple of runs over hurdles. However, nothing should be read into the fact that Sam Twiston-Davies rides the latter rather than COUNT MERIBEL (NAP) as Mark Grant has ridden the eight-year-old in all of his runs to date. His mount has a terrific record first-time up and was only a couple of lengths behind Lostintranslation at Carlisle at this time last year – he’s not raced off a mark this low since scoring at Cheltenham two years ago. Deauville Dancer probably needs better ground while Drumcliff is not the force of old and Flaminger is best giving weight to inferior rivals but King Of Realms has gone well here in the past.
Espoir De Guye (FR) 8-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear on outside, headway before 9th, lost place after 4 out, well behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Red Risk (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Disputed lead, lost position before 2 out, kept on but lacked pace of front pair on run-in, 3rd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Fidux (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Count Meribel 7-1 (11-3) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 12th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
King Of Realms (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division on outer, fell 2nd, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Earlofthecotswolds (FR) 6-1 (11-1) Held up in mid-division, struggling 3 out, no impression after, 11th of 14, 21 1/2l behind Jacamar (10-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Deauville Dancer (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Off the pace in mid-division, headway 8th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 11, 21 1/2l behind Just A Sting (11-1) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Drumcliff (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, outpaced when not much room briefly after 4 out, well beaten from 3 out, 6th of 8, 22 1/4l behind Modus (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Doitforthevillage (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Tailed off towards rear, never involved, 10th of 13, dist behind Rouge Vif (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Flaminger (FR) 4-1 (10-0) Led, clear 3rd until 6th, hit 8th, headed 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, 36 1/4l behind Amoola Gold (10-8) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
