tracked leaders, ridden and hit 2 out, weakened next
towards rear, pushed along 4 out, ridden and late headway approaching last
led 2nd, ridden and joined 2 out, headed next, stayed on one pace
held up in rear, pushed along and outpaced before 2 out
led, headed 2nd, tracked leaders, ridden and lost touch 4 out
towards rear, close up 3rd, ridden and joined leaders 2 out, led narrowly flat, headed close home
raced wide in touch, ridden and weakened 2 out
raced wide prominent, ridden and every chance last, no extra flat
in touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out
A bigger field than usual for this Grade 1. Champ won it two years ago when PAISLEY PARK was only third but Emma Lavelle’s evergreen veteran is seeking a fourth win in this race having taken the rescheduled event at Kempton last season. He produced his customary late dash to get within a head of Dashel Drasher in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury just over three weeks ago and will be 6lb better off today, though Jeremy Scott’s much-improved 10-year-old should also be thereabouts again. Botox Has had Red Risk and Dashel Drasher behind at Wetherby seven weeks ago but Caoilin Quinn can’t utilise his claim in this and his mount really needs the mud. West Balboa still has scope over this trip and a mares’ allowance in her favour while Crambo is improving at a rate of knots but the four-year-old Blueking D‘Oroux and Gowel Road look up against it and Goshen is a law unto himself.
Botox Has (FR) 15-2 (11-6) Prominent, not fluent 6th, ridden after 3 out, mistake 2 out, disputed lead approaching last where awkward, stayed on gamely run-in, on top at finish, won at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov beating Red Risk (11-2) by 1l, 6 ran.
Champ (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Mid-division, lost place before 2nd, outpaced 3 out, plugged on before last, went 5th flat, never dangerous, 5th of 10, 20 1/4l behind Sire Du Berlais (11-10) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Crambo 5-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear on outside, headway 3 out, switched left before 2 out, not much room on landing last, went 3rd flat, finished well, not reach front pair, 3rd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Slate Lane (10-12) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Dashel Drasher 2-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along and every chance 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, driven all out, won at Newbury 3m (1) gs in Dec beating Paisley Park (11-8) by hd, 6 ran.
Goshen (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Led, headed and remained close up 2nd, led again next, hit 3 out, pushed along and headed before 2 out, kept one pace before last, last of 4, 14 3/4l behind Not So Sleepy (11-10) at Sandown 2m (1) hvy in Dec.
Gowel Road (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Led until before 1st, outpaced after 9th, rallied from 2 out, lost 3rd flat, kept on, 4th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Slate Lane (10-12) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Paisley Park (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) In touch, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leading pair next, driven and stayed on strongly to press winner close home, 2nd of 6, hd behind Dashel Drasher (11-2) at Newbury 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Red Risk (FR) 9-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders on outer, headway going well before 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, disputed lead approaching final flight, ridden run-in, kept on but no extra closing stages, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Botox Has (11-6) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Blueking D'oroux (FR) 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, pushed along when hampered 2 out, soon switched right, ridden to lead flat, ran on, won at Ascot 2m 3f (1) gd in Nov beating Strong Leader (11-0) by 1l, 5 ran.
West Balboa (IRE) 8-11fav (10-13) Raced in 3rd, not fluent 6th, went 2nd after omitted 2 out, pushed along and led omitted last, stayed on and went clear run-in (two hurdles in home straight omitted due to low sun), won at Aintree 2m 4f (2) sft in Nov beating Brewin'upastorm (11-8) by 12l, 3 ran.
