close up, tracked leaders 4th, chased leader 3 out, led narrowly next, ridden out
led, 3 lengths clear 3 out, ridden and headed narrowly next, no extra flat
raced wide tracked leaders, dropped to rear at 4th, outpaced 3 out
close up in rear, headway 4th, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace
not fluent throughout, tracked leader until ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
Third in a Grade 2 chase at Haydock in January, Fortescue won a Listed contest over the larger obstacles at Ascot later and ran in the Aintree Grand National on his final start last season. Dr Kananga was also in winning form over fences last season and has had wind surgery since last seen but SAINT PALAIS was even more progressive in chases last term and was threatening to win over hurdles before that. Keep Wondering hasn’t run over hurdles since the end of 2019 and Merveillo is making his debut over timber but Maximilian is 3-3 under Rules, though is penalised and stepping up in class here and Broadway Boy will need to improve on last month’s second at Market Rasen.
Maximilian (GER) 11-10fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, switched left before 3 out, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on flat, won at Carlisle 2m 4f (4) gs in Oct beating Harjo (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Dr Kananga 6-5fav (11-8) Jumped left at times, led, ridden and joined omitted 3 out, headed before 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Eva's Oskar (11-5) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Fortescue 28-1 (10-6) Towards rear, tailed off when unseated rider 27th, at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Keep Wondering (IRE) 17-2 (11-11) Held up on inner, headway and chased leaders 8th, challenged from 3 out, hung left after last but soon ran on well, just failed, 2nd of 11, shd behind Duc De Beauchene (11-12) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Saint Palais (FR) 7-2jfav (11-12) Always handy, not fluent 4 out, led 2 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar beating Gustavian (11-8) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Broadway Boy (IRE) Evensfav (10-12) Held up in rear, novicey at times, headway into 2nd before 2 out, soon pushed along, not fluent 2 out, no impression when hit last, rallied run-in, closing at finish, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Let's Have Another (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 5f (4) gs in Oct.
Merveillo 25-1 (9-5) Held up in rear, driven along and headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Valley Forge (9-0) at Haydock 2m hcp (2) gd in May.
