chased leading pair, pushed along between last two, weakened and lost two places run-in
mistake 1st, chased leaders out wide, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
mid-division on inside, closer when hit 3 out, weakened soon after
chased leader, hit 5th, led 2 out, went clear before last, edged left but stayed on strongly run-in
pulled hard towards rear, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, weakened quickly between last two
mid-division, ridden between last two, no headway
raced keenly in rear, hit 5th, never a factor
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4 out, outpaced between last two, rallied under pressure into modest 3rd run-in
led until 2 out, lost 2nd soon after, chased leaders, weakened between last two
held up off the pace in last pair, good headway out wide and hit 6th, rallied approaching 3 out, travelling well after next, 4 lengths down and outpaced before the last, hung left and stayed on same pace run-in
mid-division, headway out wide chasing leaders 3 out, plugged on in 4th run-in
NonRunner
Only one four-year-old has won this in 20 years so the odds are stacked against Pyramid Place, second at Chepstow last month, and Sedgefield maiden winner Punxsutawney Phil. Breffniboy won five times last season but has shot up the weights and changed stables. Benson has had wind surgery since last seen in December and Capilano Bridge last ran in April but Gowel Road will have benefited from a run at Chepstow and Good Time Jonny and Unexpected Party were winners last month. MACKELDUFF beat an equally-promising rival at Aintree on his return to action and can defy a 7lb rise to complete the hat-trick.
Benson 5-1jfav (11-1) Held up in rear-division, headway approaching last, stayed on run-in, went never nearer 4th towards finish, 4th of 17, 6 1/4l behind Not So Sleepy (11-6) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Capilano Bridge (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division early, slight mistake 2nd, headway and effort to chase winner straight, soon no impression, slight mistake last, one pace, 2nd of 25, 12l behind Capodanno (11-1) at Punchestown 3m hcp Yielding in Apr.
Breffniboy (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 3 out, hung right before next, went 2nd soon after 2 out, upsides last, every chance run-in, found no extra towards finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Switch Hitter (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Gowel Road (IRE) 17-2 (11-6) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, stayed on one pace, no impression, 6th of 17, 18 3/4l behind Orbys Legend (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Severance 10-1 (11-5) Raced keenly with head high carriage, tracked leader, went left 1st, led briefly next, pushed along and no extra in 4th when left modest 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 6, 13 1/2l behind Third Time Lucki (11-8) at Kempton 2m (2) gs in Dec.
Good Time Jonny (IRE) 6-4fav (10-7) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd when not fluent 3 out, pushed along and challenged between horses entering straight, led 2 out, ridden and 3 lengths lead at last, stayed on well, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct beating Rich Belief (10-8) by 5l, 11 ran.
Pyramid Place (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway when hampered 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, pressing winner when out-jumped last, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Progressive (10-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Mackelduff (FR) 11-2 (10-3) Mid-division, closed 6th, not fluent next, chasing leaders on outside when not fluent 2 out, soon leaning in left, pulled right and closed last, led flat, stayed on well, won going away, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Pounding Poet (10-12) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Small Bad Bob (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 3 out, held before last, 9th of 12, 13 1/2l behind Samba Dancer (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Unexpected Party (FR) 11-8fav (11-11) Chased leaders, travelling strongly 3 out, disputed lead 2 out, drew clear last, easily, won at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Oct beating Motion In Limine (11-12) by 8l, 9 ran.
Punxsutawney Phil (IRE) 8-13fav (10-13) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and led before last, ran on well, edged left run-in, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Oct beating Spiritofthenorth (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Vis A Vis 4-1 (9-11) Led, ridden along over 2f out, headed 2f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Geremia (9-2) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Sep.
