led and jumped left, headed 10th, weakened 4 out, behind when hampered 2 out
always behind
chased leader, led 10th, headed 4 out, led again 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened flat
in touch, mistake 4th, weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
held up, headway 11th, led approaching 2 out, driven out
started slowly, behind, kept on from 2 out, never troubled leaders
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, one pace flat
mistakes, mid-division, headway 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 6th and no chance when fell 2 out
towards rear, headway 6th, outpaced 4 out, rallied approaching 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat, not trouble winner
in touch, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 4th, led 4 out to 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, ridden after 9th, hit 4 out, soon weakened, behind when hampered 2 out
Nonrunner
Chauvinist, Tango Royal and Christopher form the shortlist with the vote going to the first-named horse. Noisetine is possibly opposable from today's mark on this going. Tango Royal is back to a winning mark from the summer and, with his stable in much better form of late, cannot be ruled out. Calatagan has to carry a penalty for his Stratford win, but this is tougher. There is no doubt that Chauvinist is on a good mark if putting it all together, while Bronzesmith needs to find a little more improvement in order to score. Darina's Boy is certainly capable but maybe would prefer easier going, and Bee And Bee is not out of this based on his best efforts. Lord On The Run chased home The Local last time and could yet be reasonably rated, while a case can be made for Christopher given that he is a poind below a winning mark of November 2004 and the going will not bother him. Flight Command is a little bit in-and-out, and Idiome is back to a reasonable mark if putting it all together, and Cassia Heights has a very good chance based on his Aintree-winning form of 2004, but you could not be strong on his chance based on more-recent efforts. All of which returns us to the selction, which is Chauvinist.
Noisetine (FR) 10-1 (10-3) Held up, pushed along and struggling from 6th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Supreme Prince (10-6) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Apr, 9 ran.
Tango Royal (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Always behind, 15th of 18, well behind Standin Obligation (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (1) gd in Apr.
Calatagan (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Made all, not fluent, ridden and hung left from 2 out but kept on, won at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr beating Joey Tribbiani (10-11) by 1l, 8 ran.
Chauvinist (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Prominent, led 6th to 13th, weakened after 4 out, 7th of 18, 39l behind State of Play (10-2) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Darina's Boy 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, in 3rd when blundered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Red Perk (9-6) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr, 5 ran.
Lord On The Run (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) Chased winner, challenged after 3 out, every chance run-in, no extra, 2nd of 7, nk behind The Local (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov chs (3) gd in Apr.
Christopher 3-1 (11-0) Prominent, went 2nd 13th, every chance 3 out, mistake 2 out, no extra, 3rd of 7, 12l behind First Love (10-4) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Flight Command 12-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 10, 25l behind Polar Gunner (10-9) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Apr.
