tracked leaders, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on
held up mid-division, weakened from 4 out
held up mid-division, soon tracked leaders in 3rd, hit 5 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, smooth headway before 2 out, led on bit before last, hard held
with leader, led 4 out, hit 3 out, ridden and narrowly headed 2 out, no extra before last
held up towards rear, weakened before 4 out
led, headed 4 out, soon reminders and weakened
mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon went 2nd, led narrowly 2 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on and no chance with winner
PROMPTER threw in the towel when An Capall Mor came again over C&D in August having looked all over the winner approaching the last. It will take all of A P McCoy's persuasion to get him home in front in this but he's the best handicapped horse in the race and gets the nod on that basis. Justazippy won three times over similar trips last season but returns from a break, as do Perfect Reward, Rowlestone Lad and Mirific, while Mount Welcome and King Eloi were pulled up at Worcester and Galway respectively last month. Going Nowhere Fast only won a seller at Newton Abbot and is penalised here so may also struggle.
Justazippy 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead before last, kept on well, driven out, won at Doncaster 2m mares hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar beating Doynosaur (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Perfect Reward 85-40fav (11-12) Prominent, hit 4th, ridden approaching 4 out, no impression from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 18l behind Oceana Gold (11-4) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jul '11.
Rowlestone Lad 9-2 (11-5) Chased leading pair, weakened after 3 out, disputing modest 4th when fell last, in a race won by Marshal Zhukov (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Apr, 8 ran.
Prompter 5-2 (10-12) Held up, stumbled 3rd, headway from 5th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, challenged last, ridden flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind An Capall Mor (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Mirific (FR) 9-1 (11-1) Led, joined 2 out, ridden and headed last, switched left flat, no extra, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Monkey Milan (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Apr.
Mount Welcome (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, blundered badly when behind 5th, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Coffee (11-8) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Sep, 14 ran.
King Eloi 25-1 (11-6) Mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and dropped to rear when mistake 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Missunited (11-5) at Galway 2m 2f nh nov hdl sft in Sep, 8 ran.
Going Nowhere Fast (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, took keen hold, mistake 3rd, challenged 3 out, soon led, clear 2 out, soon hung left, not fluent last, ran on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Sep beating Rime Avec Gentil (11-10) by 7l, 13 ran.