held up, ridden, some progress from 3 out, kept on
held up rear, steady headway when fell 4 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, keen, tracked leaders from 3rd, ridden when mistake 2 out, weakened soon after
held up rear, hampered 4 out, ridden, one pace soon after
tracked leader, lost place 3rd, close up when pulled up after 4 out
always towards rear
mid-division, never a danger, tailed off from 3 out
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, every chance last, no extra flat
held up mid-division, pulled up before 6th, dismounted
in touch, ridden 2 out, chased leaders, weakened last
held up rear, headway on outside approaching 2 out, every chance last, kept on well to lead close home
always towards rear
led, keen, ridden when hit 2 out, headed approaching last, weakened flat
mid-division, ridden, weakened 3 out
held up rear, behind when hampered by loose horse 2 out
always prominent, every chance when fell 2 out
always in the rear, lost touch from 3 out
This looks to be a cracking contest for simply a qualifier and we take Covent Garden to justify what will probably be favouritism, while a number of others have claims. The selection really does look a good sort over two-and-a-half miles, but travels as though three miles is within his compass, and he will need to stay here. His fourth in the Coral Cup shows he handles it well here, he still has a progressive look about him, and the way he won last time at Aintree suggests he might actually need this longer trip. Korelo is a cracking sort who shoulders top weight here and can definitely be thereabouts, though he may just be a little to high in the weights, while the same applies to Dancing Bay. Don't Be Shy looked out of his depth last time and probably needs more juice in the ground, while Fire Dragon, Control Man and Ravenswood all have things to recommend them with such low racing weights. An interesting contender after a huge lay-off is Rosarian, but Victor Dartnall is flying at the moment and a big run would be no surprise. But Covent Garden is in great heart and he can score.
Korelo (FR) 15-2 (11-0) In touch, not fluent 8th, weakened approaching next, 4th of 6, 28l behind Inglis Drever (11-8) at Newbury 3m hdl Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov.
Dancing Bay 10-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 9, well behind Monet's Garden (11-10) at Aintree 3m hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Apr.
The Bajan Bandit (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden and lost place after 6th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by St Matthew (11-4) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
Sh Boom 25-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, hit 4th, ridden and struggling before 3 out, 5th of 6, 38l behind No Refuge (11-4) at Windsor 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov.
Don't Be Shy (FR) 6-1 (10-6) Mid-division, chased leaders from 3rd, challenged from 3 out until weakened after 2 out, 11th of 19, 16l behind Lingo (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov.
Hirvine (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, close up when fell 4 out in race won by Holland Park (11-0) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Apr, 22 ran.
Stormez (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Mistake 4 out, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Innox (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
Control Man (IRE) 5-1fav (10-6) Held up towards rear, mistake 14th, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on one pace approaching last, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 16, 10l behind Innox (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov.
Fire Dragon (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway to chase leaders from 3 out, chased winner flat, no impression, 2nd of 17, 1 1/2l behind The Market Man (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Oct.
Covent Garden 5-1co-fav (11-3) In touch, lost place after 5th, headway 4 out, led approaching next, ridden and stayed on from 2 out, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Nov beating Penny Pictures (11-2) by 4l, 12 ran.
Rambling Minster 10-1 (10-13) Held up and pulled hard, headway after 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened last, 5th of 14, 12l behind St Matthew (11-4) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gs in Nov.
Attorney General (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Towards rear, headway after 3 out, nearest finish, 7th of 15, 25l behind Lacdoudal (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (A) sft in Oct.
Zibeline (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leader after 7th, soon ridden, one pace, 5th of 8, 20l behind Crossbow Creek (11-5) at Taunton 2m beg chs (D) gf in Nov.
Glacial Sunset (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Led, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Dangerously Good (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (B) gs.
Oodachee 16-1 (9-10) Held up, headway 4 out, going well from 2 out, chased winner under pressure flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Standin Obligation (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (A) gs in Nov.
True Lover (GER) 13-2 (10-4) In touch to 9th, soon weakened, behind when, 9th of 14, more than 31l behind St Matthew (11-4) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) gs in Nov.
Ravenswood (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, steady headway from 5th, weakened 7th, no chance when pulled up 3 out in race won by Nick's Choice (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Rosarian (IRE) 9-4fav (10-5) Tracked leader, led 6th, clear 3 out, hung left from 2 out, weakening last, just held on, dismounted lame after line, won at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-150 (B) gf in Nov '03 beating Ballyvaddy (10-5) by a nk, 5 ran.
Your A Gassman (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Towards rear, never dangerous, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Supreme Breeze (10-8) at Hexham 4m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.
Howle Hill (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway after 4th, every chance from 3 out until after 2 out, one pace flat, 5th of 19, 6l behind Lingo (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov.
