tracked leaders, pushed along 14th, lost place 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
raced wide close up, ridden 3 out, stayed on to go 3rd at last
held up, slow 1st, looked held when blundered 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
in touch, pushed along and lost place to rear 14th, rallied 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, lost 3rd at last, kept on
tracked winner until ridden 3 out, weakened last
always in rear, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
made all, not fluent 11th, ridden 2 out, driven out
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 6th when fell last
in touch, headway to track leaders 9th, chased winner 3 out, ridden next, stayed on flat
Minella Daddy won this in 2016 but missed the whole of last year and hasn’t raced since going close at Kempton in May. Vice Et Vertu scored at Ffos Las in the same month but this looks a tougher assignment while the inconsistent Battle Of Shiloh also returns to action. Cabaret Queen was pulled-up after a bad blunder at Fontwell on her comeback but showed ability over fences last season and can figure with a clear round while FAVORITO BUCK’S will need to improve on last month’s fourth at Exeter. But the latter should be sharper today having run well for a long way on that occasion and it would be no surprise to see Paul Nicholls’ charge bang there at the finish in a tough race to call.
Minella Daddy (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Ran in snatches, chased leader, went badly right 1st, dropped to 3rd next until 6th, lost place 9th, rallied 11th, ridden in 4th after 4 out, kept on run-in, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Bugsie Malone (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Battle Of Shiloh (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Prominent until 7th, chased leaders, ridden and weakening when mistake 12th, pulled up after 15th, at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Above Board (IRE) 17-2 (10-2) Held up towards rear, mistake 12th, headway after 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 16, 23 3/4l behind Relentless Dreamer (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Tintern Theatre (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inside, outpaced 4 out, soon driven and lost place, weakened next, tailed off, 8th of 10, dist behind Looksnowtlikebrian (11-2) at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Cabaret Queen 3-1 (10-13) Held up in 3rd, in touch when blundered badly 12th, not recover, soon eased and pulled up, at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Markov (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 4th, effort on outside after 9th, lost place normal 3 out, well beaten next, last of 8, 33 1/2l behind Cobra De Mai (11-12) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Favorito Buck's (FR) 11-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, left disputing 3rd 4 out, ridden 2 out, no extra in 4th when hit last, 4th of 7, 10 1/4l behind Scoop The Pot (11-9) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Le Boizelo (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Raced keenly, made most, reached for 7th, narrowly headed 13th in front again next, joined when mistake and unseated rider 3 out, at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Vice Et Vertu (FR) 14-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway on outside 11th, joined leader 5 out, led next, drew clear from 3 out, driven out, stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) gd in May beating Walt (11-8) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
