held up towards rear, hampered 5 out, soon beaten
mid-division, tracked leaders after 5 out, upsides 2 out, led last, ridden clear flat, stayed on well
soon behind and not travel well, lost touch when pulled up before 6th
tracked leaders, lost place before 5 out, well held from 3 out, blundered last
tracked leaders, fell heavily 5 out
mid-division, headway an in touch on outside after 5 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no impression with winner flat, lost 2nd closing stages
held up behind, headway to track leaders 5 out, ridden and outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, hampered 5 out, driven and headway 3 out, ridden to chase front pair after next, kept on to take narrow 2nd closing stages, no impression with winner
tracked leader, challenged 4 out, led narrowly before next, headed when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
led, pecked 1st, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened next
Ifandbutwhynot has staged something of a revival lately. The five-year-old Romain De Senam is still at the right end of the handicap but Double W's is now on a career-high mark after winning at Aintree. Simply Ned has been locking horns with the best two-milers in the country over the winter and should find this easier but this is likely to be run at a real clip and that will suit VANITEUX. He stays further but was placed off higher marks over this trip before the turn of the year and the booking of Noel Fehily suggests Nicky Henderson means business today. Apterix has done well over fences but may be aiming a bit high here while Yorkist often promises more than he delivers.
Simply Ned (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, in touch 4 out, weakened after next, 9th of 10, dist behind Special Tiara (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Vaniteux (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Held up in last pair, headway under pressure 3 out, not pace to reach leaders, weakened after next, last of 8, 31 3/4l behind Un De Sceaux (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Mar.
Double W's (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Soon tracking leaders, challenged before last, led final 75 yards, stayed on, driven out, won at Aintree 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr beating Theinval (11-6) by 1l, 14 ran.
Apterix (FR) 1-2fav (11-6) Led, mistake 2 out, ridden and headed run-in, rallied to regain lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) sft in Mar beating Allbarnone (11-0) by 3/4l, 3 ran.
Mixboy (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division, in touch on outside 6th, led 11th, driven and headed after 3 out, behind when weakened next, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar.
Somchine 14-1 (11-8) Held up off the pace in 5th, headway on inside tracking leaders before 7th, went 2nd before 3 out, led 2 out, clear last, kept on strongly, won at Hereford 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Lord Ben (10-3) by 4l, 8 ran.
Yorkist (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, steady headway from 8th, jumped right and baulked 4 out, not fluent 3 out, close 4th when hit last, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Double W's (11-1) at Aintree 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Romain De Senam (FR) 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, in touch on inside when hit 4 out, soon outpaced, plugged on from before last but unable to reach challenging position, 5th of 14, 6 3/4l behind Double W's (11-1) at Aintree 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
De Faoithesdream (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Tracked winner, challenged 6th, led narrowly 8th, headed after next, lost 2nd and weakened before 4 out, mistake when well behind 2 out, finished tired, last of 4, dist behind Speredek (10-8) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Ifandbutwhynot (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Made all, jumped left throughout, driven clear 2 out, ran on well, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gs in Apr beating I'dliketheoption (11-9) by 9l, 7 ran.
Indian Temple (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Led until mistake 11th, chased leaders, blundered 3 out, weakened soon after, 12th of 16, dist behind O Maonlai (11-6) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
