towards rear, hampered 2nd, headway after 4 out, staying on when blundered and unseated rider next
with leader and clear of rest, lost place 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
in touch, outpaced 4 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, close up and every chance when fell next
towards rear, headway into mid-division 9th, hampered 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression before next
always behind, reminders after 5th, never dangerous
mid-division on outside, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, smooth headway 3 out, upsides next, led last, ridden flat, kept on until no extra and headed towards finish
led and clear with one other, pressed 4 out, headed 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression flat
mid-division outpaced 4 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out
in touch, lost place when blundered 8th, behind 4 out, hampered next
mid-division, headway 4 out, tracked leaders next, effort 2 out, one pace before last, no impression flat
behind, blundered 3rd, headway on inside 4 out, soon tracked leaders, effort 2 out, switched right before last, ridden flat, stayed on well to lead towards finish
mid-division when hampered and unseated rider 2nd
blundered 1st, behind, headway 8th, tracked leaders 4 out, led narrowly 2 out, headed last, ridden and kept on same pace flat
mid-division, reminder after 9th, soon chased leaders, outpaced before 2 out, never on terms
in touch, outpaced on outside when hampered 3 out, soon weakened
always behind, weakened and pulled up after 3 out
mid-division when fell 2nd
Nonrunner
This looks wide-open but last season's Grand Annual fourth Next Sensation didn't impress on his reappearance at Ascot and is unlikely to get his own way out in front again. Anquetta was just collared over a longer trip at Stratford last time bur Fair Dilemma looks too high in the weights now and Karinga Dancer's jumping will be put under pressure under top weight and a trip that is probably on the sharp side. Robin's Command may be biting off more than he can chew in this grade but Festive Affair, Ut Majeur Aulmes and Rio De Sivola should be capable of better this winter while Anay Turge, who beat Sew On Target and De Faoithesdream in this last year, is gradually slipping to a competitive mark again. ASTRACAD generally races over further nowadays but is effective over 2m, as he showed when fourth in a Grade 3 handicap at Aintree in May when finishing ahead of several of today's rivals. He's 3lb lower now and should be cherry-ripe after a couple of runs so there is no reason why Nigel Twiston-Davies' eight-year-old won't be in the mix.
Karinga Dancer 6-4fav (11-12) Held up in mid-division, jumped left at times, closed before 8th, led going well before 4 out, ridden and stayed on flat, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in May beating King Edmund (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Next Sensation (IRE) 9-2fav (11-11) Led until 3rd, chased winner, hit 4th and next, lost 2nd approaching 6th, chased leaders, weakened 9th, 6th of 9, 28l behind Ulck Du Lin (9-13) at Ascot 2m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, in 5th when fell 4 out, in a race won by Grey Gold (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) sft in Oct, 12 ran.
Anquetta (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, jumped right at times, led after 2nd, joined last, headed close home, 2nd of 10, nk behind Bertie Boru (10-12) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Astracad (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders on inside, close up from 7th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 11, 9l behind Johns Spirit (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
Shangani (USA) 25-1 (11-12) Behind, hampered 5th, struggling 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Streams Of Whiskey (10-10) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 19 ran.
Festive Affair (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leader from 3rd, led 11th, headed before 2 out, weakened last, 9th of 19, 19l behind Present View (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed nov hcap ch (1) gs in Mar.
Sew On Target (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Tracked leader until 7th, dropped rear next, not fluent and well held 3 out, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Johns Spirit (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
De Faoithesdream (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Led, ridden 2 out, headed approaching last, ran on, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Roman Flight (11-12) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Anay Turge (FR) 28-1 (10-1) Always towards rear, 7th of 12, 29l behind Grey Gold (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) sft in Oct.
Last Shot (FR) 25-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 4th, ridden and struggling approaching 6th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Parsnip Pete (10-10) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 16 ran.
Ut Majeur Aulmes (FR) 11-4 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, soon ridden and effort, one pace when left 2nd last, 2nd of 4, 14l behind Able Deputy (11-0) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Jun.
Bold Henry 22-1 (10-0) Mid-division, lost place before 4th, 20th of 22, well behind Court Minstrel (11-12) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Rio De Sivola (FR) 6-4fav (10-8) Led, narrowly headed 3 out, soon ridden chasing winner, lost 2nd approaching 2 out, soon no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Lord Of House (11-7) at Ludlow 2m nov hcap ch (3) hvy in Jan.
Monetaire (FR) (11-4) in a race won by Tiger De La Roque (10-6) at Pau(FR) 2m 4f hcp chs sft in Dec, 18 ran.
Hollow Blue Sky (FR) 11-2 (10-13) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 13th, headway before 3 out, went 3rd from 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Hollow Penny (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Robin's Command (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, mistake 6 out, challenged 4 out, led before 3 out, ridden run-in, kept on well, won at Carlisle 2m nov hcap ch (3) sft in Oct beating Authinger (11-8) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Owen Na View (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led narrowly, not fluent 2nd, headed 6th, led again 9th, headed after 4 out, ridden and weakened after next, tailed off when lost 3rd after 2 out, 4th of 7, 48l behind The Ould Lad (11-2) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
Going Concern (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Close up on inside, lost place after 4th, pushed along and outpaced after next, well beaten from 3 out, 4th of 7, 20l behind Taaresh (11-2) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Oct.
Fair Dilemma (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Led, driven flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Able Deputy (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gf in Aug.
