chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, pushed along next, weakened 5th, well behind when went sharply left 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, chased leading pair before 2 out, not fluent last, ridden flat, ran on towards finish
sweating, held up in rear, not fluent 1st, mistake 3rd, struggling approaching 3 out, never dangerous
chased leaders to 4th, well behind 3 out
always prominent, narrow lead before 3 out, ridden and pressed after 2 out, headed last, ran on towards finish
held up in rear, steady progress into mid-division 3 out, not much room after 2 out, went 4th last, closed on leaders flat, no impression near finish
chased leaders on outside until before 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, mistakes 1st and 2nd, struggling when hampered 3 out
always behind
prominent, led after 5th, narrowly headed before 3 out, bumped 2 out, weakening when hampered soon after
towards rear, mistakes 1st and 2nd, slightly hampered 3 out, ran on flat, never in contention
chased leaders, pushed along 4th, outpaced after next, stayed on approaching last, drifted left and kept on flat
mid-division, headway 5th, jumped left 2 out, not fluent last, kept on flat
led, headed after 5th, soon driven, weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, raced keenly, pushed along before 5th, weakening when fell 3 out
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, went close 2nd after 3 out, narrow lead last, driven out, held on gamely
mid-division, ridden and behind 4th
mid-division, hit 1st, ridden and struggling when hampered 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 5th, beaten when not much room after 2 out, weakened approaching last
sweating, held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, no further progress
mid-division, progress on inside after 5th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, mistakes 2nd and 3rd, ridden and some headway before 3 out, no further progress
Nonrunner
Binocular is undoubtedly the one to beat, but there are worries surrounding Nicky Henderson's charge and we are more inclined to side with CELESTIAL HALO ahead of Osana, reigning champion Katchit and previous winner Sublimity. Last year Katchit became the first five-year-old to win the race since See You Then in 1985 and it appears that the younger brigade have the advantage once again. The selection was second to Binocular earlier in the season at Ascot but that was his first run of the year and he had to cut out his own running. With Osana likely to take them along here at a good gallop, he looks sure to run well on a track that suits his stamina. Osana is interesting in the first-time blinkers. His trainer has a good record at the festival with horses trying headgear for the first time and likely to strip a lot fitter for his reappearance (behind Celestial Halo) he is a big player. Ashkazar and Whiteoak are closely linked on their Wincanton clash last time where the former prevailed. It is intriguing that connections have chosen this race for Whiteoak but she is not to be underestimated receiving 7lbs. Binocular is the deserving favourite but with the rain around he is still too short. The jury is still out on whether he got up the hill last season but with another year under his belt it would be unwise to rule him out just on that front. Snap Tie looked a major player when beating Katchit earlier in the season; that form has since turned out to be fragile however and he needs to improve. A similar story applies to Crack Away Jack, last-year's Fred Winter winner, whilst Sizing Europe has not pleased connections since coming across from Ireland and may not make the starting line-up. Of the four previous winners (Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Sublimity and Katchit), the most likely to play a major part would be Sublimity if he is back to his best. Throw in the enigmatic Harchibald and finish with a side order of Jered and last year's third Punjabi and we have a wonderful treat in store. Finding the winner is another thing entirely but we will side with Celestial Halo.
Alph 33-1 (11-4) Held up, chased clear trio from 4th, never on terms, 4th of 6, 26l behind Celestial Halo (11-4) at Sandown 2m lst hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Ashkazar (FR) 10-3 (11-7) Pushed along start, soon prominent, led bend approaching 2 out, hard ridden from last, kept on well, won at Wincanton 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Whiteoak (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Binocular (FR) Evensfav (11-4) Held up behind leaders, smooth headway to lead 2 out, soon clear, readily, won at Ascot 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec beating Celestial Halo (11-4) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Blue Bajan (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Held up in 5th, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, every chance before last, kept on under impression run-in, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Harchibald (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Dec.
Brave Inca (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Tracked leaders, moderate 4th halfway, closer 4 out, 3rd 3 out, 2nd after 3 out, improved to lead approaching 2 out, ridden entering straight, challenged approaching last, kept on well, won at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 hvy in Jan beating.
Celestial Halo (IRE) 1-2fav (11-4) Tracked leader, ridden to lead 2 out, edged right approaching last, ridden out, won at Sandown 2m lst hdl (1) sft in Jan beating Osana (11-8) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Crack Away Jack 11-4 (11-2) Held up last, headway to join leaders after 6th, ridden after 3 out, 3rd and beaten when blundered 2 out, last of 5, 21l behind Binocular (11-4) at Ascot 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Cybergenic (FR) (10-12) Made all, very easily, won at Auteuil 2m 5f hdl in Jun '07 beating Royal Denpasar (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Ebaziyan (IRE) 8-11fav (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, close up when short of room entering straight, quickened to lead approaching last, not fluent, ran on strongly run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 2f hdl gs beating Star Wood (11-0) by 8l, 4 ran.
Harchibald (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Held up in rear but in touch, steady headway to track leaders going well when left 2nd 2 out, challenged between horses, led and hit last ridden and always just doing enough, won at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Dec beating Snap Tie (11-7.
Hardy Eustace (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, closer 4 out, headway to 2nd 3 out, led after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra in 3rd entering straight, 5th and kept on one, 5th of 9, 22l behind Brave Inca (11-10) at Leopardsto.
Jered (IRE) 4-5fav (11-10) Settled in rear, headway to 3rd 3 out, ridden after 2 out, no impression before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 5l behind Hardy Eustace (11-10) at Punchestown 2m hdl Grd 1 hvy in Nov.
Katchit (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leader to after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 4th of 5, 18l behind Binocular (11-4) at Ascot 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Muirhead (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Mid-division, moderate 6th halfway, headway to 5th 3 out, 4th before 2 out, travelled well to challenged approaching last, ridden and no extra run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Brave Inca (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd.
Osana (FR) 10-3 (11-8) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, switched left approaching last, no further impression, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Celestial Halo (11-4) at Sandown 2m lst hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Othermix (FR) (10-6) Chased winner, one pace from 2 out, 5th of 10, 7l behind Grivette (10-2) at Auteuil 2m 3f hdl Grd 1 (1) hvy in Jun.
Punjabi 2-1fav (11-11) Held up, headway and chased leaders approaching 2 out, soon ridden, not quicken from approaching last, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Ashkazar (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
River Liane (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, moderate 5th halfway, headway to 4th 3 out, improved to 3rd before 2 out, 2nd after 2 out, ridden and no extra before last, kept on same pace in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Brave Inca (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd.
Sentry Duty (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Raced wide, mid-division, hit 4th, headway after 3 out, hit next, led approaching last, ran on, ridden out, won at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Dec beating Belcantista (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 21 ran.
Snap Tie (IRE) 11-10fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Songe (11-6) at Haydock 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Sublimity (FR) 2-1fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway to 6th 3 out, 5th 2 out, ridden in 4th before last, no extra and kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 18l behind Brave Inca (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 hvy in Jan.
Won In The Dark (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Held up, 8th halfway, headway in 4th before 2 out, ridden to challenge last, kept on well run-in, no extra close home, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Sublimity (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 gs in Dec.
Whiteoak (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway from 2 out, every chance approaching last, not matched winner flat, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Ashkazar (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Sizing Europe (IRE) 15-8fav (11-10) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, headway to 2nd after 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden to disputed entering straight, 4th and weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 9l behind Sublimity (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 gs in Dec.
