in touch in mid-division, not fluent 5th, lost place 9th, weakened 2 out
always prominent, challenged 4 out, led last, soon headed, stayed on
mid-division, lost place 8th, well beaten before 4 out
held up in rear, headway 5th, led 7th, not fluent 4 out, headed last, no extra flat
held up towards rear, headway after 9th, close up when mistake 4 out, challenged last, soon led, driven out
led until 2nd, led 4th, headed 7th, lost place 4 out, soon weakened
prominent, led 2nd, headed 4th, not fluent 8th, every chance 4 out, mistake 2 out, weakened before last
always towards rear
in touch, took keen hold, mistake 9th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, lost place after 4th, closed before 4 out, one pace and beaten from 2 out
towards rear and wide, closed after 4th, lost place from 7th, not fluent next, well beaten before 4 out
NonRunner
Theinval was due to run over a longer trip here yesterday, as was Romain De Senam. The latter’s stablemate, Dolos, stayed on through beaten horses at Cheltenham but still looks a few pounds too high. Duke Of Navan beat Forest Bihan, DOUBLE W’S, Upsilon Bleu and Foxtail Hill at Doncaster in January but Ruth Jefferson’s gelding should get a lot closer on today’s terms. He was ready to run at Aintree last week but withdrawn on account of the heavy going – this could provide suitable compensation. Dandridge is starting to look dangerously well handicapped but Ascot scorer Ashoka is still 2lb out of the handicap, despite a 7lb rise.
Forest Bihan (FR) (11-4) Keen, tracked leading pair, smooth headway on outside into 2nd 2f out, led going well over 1f out, briefly pressed just inside final furlong, soon shaken up to assert and drew clear, won at Newcastle 2m (3) pol in Mar beating The Resdev Way (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Dolos (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders to 6th (water), towards rear when hit 8th, in rear 3 out, stayed on past beaten horses after last, never near leaders, 7th of 22, 19 1/2l behind Le Prezien (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Vaniteux (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 14th of 22, dist behind Le Prezien (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Duke Of Navan (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway from 6 out, led 2 out, headed run-in, rallied to regain lead post, won at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Bigmartre (11-1) by shd, 8 ran.
Theinval (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway from 4 out, ridden to chase winner and edged left after 2 out, closed last, stayed on but unable to challenge, 2nd of 16, 3 1/4l behind Bentelimar (10-8) at Aintree 2m hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Foxtail Hill (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Disputed lead until blundered 2nd, tracked leader, mistake 4 out, weakened after next, 11th of 22, 31 1/2l behind Le Prezien (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Upsilon Bleu (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 8, 15 1/4l behind Duke Of Navan (10-10) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Dandridge 10-1 (10-1) Chased leaders on inside, weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, 19 1/4l behind Sir Valentino (11-6) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Double W's (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 13 1/4l behind Duke Of Navan (10-10) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Ashoka (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Held up last, headway when left 4th and hampered 3 out, short of room and switched to inside approaching 2 out where pecked, 2nd at the last, squeezed through on inner to lead near finish, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Mar beating Beau Bay (10-13) by nk, 6 ran.
Contre Tous (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Jumped awkwardly 1st, close up, headway to chase leaders 5th, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 11 1/2l behind Pearl Of The West (10-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) gs in Mar.
Romain De Senam (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Hit 1st, mid-division, struggling when blundered 4 out, soon behind, 12th of 22, 36l behind The Storyteller (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
