chased leaders, hampered 4 out, soon lost place and well beaten, kept on flat
led until 3rd, chased winner until mistake 10th, weakened after 4 out
mid-division, not fluent 8th, headway 11th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, not fluent 6th,, headway 11th, went 2nd 3 out until before 2 out, 4th when pecked last, went 3rd towards finish, kept on, no impression on winner
mid-division, struggling 12th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, not much room 4 out, 4 length 5th when fell 2 out
disputing lead when awkward and unseated rider 1st
held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway before 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, every chance last, edged right flat, held inside final 100 yards
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd 12th until 3 out, soon weakened, fell last
always in rear, behind 11th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, mistake and lost place 3rd, well beaten 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, remote 9th 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 4th close home, nearest finish
mistake towards rear, well behind 12th, pulled up after
chased leaders on outside, went 2nd 10th, mistake next, not fluent and lost 2nd 12th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led 3rd, sprawled badly on landing 4th, clear before 6th, not fluent 11th, reduced lead after 4 out, mistake 3 out, pressed from 2 out, edged right flat, stayed on well and in command final 100 yards
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, close 2nd when mistake 2 out, switched left flat, weakened final 75 yards
NonRunner
French imports tend to do well in this traditionally-competitive Grade 3 and Paul Nicholls has won it twice in the last eight years, including with a five-year-old in 2014. Saint Sonnet ran in the Golden Miller here in March after winning at Catterick but finished behind Mister Fisher, though there should be little between the pair on today’s terms. Siruh Du Lac is potentially well treated and Al Dancer proved his well-being when beating a subsequent winner at Newton Abbot. Fidux is another recent winner while Happy Diva, though 8lb higher than when landing this 12 months ago, made a satisfactory reappearance at Wetherby. She is 6lb better off than when beaten a length-and-a-quarter by SIMPLY THE BETTS in a Grade 3 at The Festival last season but the sky could be limit for Harry Whittington’s gelding this term if he shows the expected further improvement.
Aso (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Prominent on outside, led briefly 7th, pushed along and lost place 5 out, soon behind, tailed off 3 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Min (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
Simply The Betts (IRE) 10-3fav (11-4) Tracked leader, challenged on inside after 3 out, left in narrow lead next, ridden and hit last, soon headed, rallied to regain lead flat, stayed on well towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar beating Happy Diva (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 23 ran.
Mister Fisher (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 5th, mid-division after next, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace in 4th before last, no impression, 4th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Samcro (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar.
Al Dancer (FR) 2-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, pecked 3rd, closed 10th, mistake 12th, went 2nd 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, led before last, edged left flat, stayed on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (2) gs in Oct beating Master Tommytucker (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 4 ran.
Slate House (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear on inside, not always fluent, headway 15th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, hampered last, tailed off, 6th of 10, dist behind Champ (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Happy Diva (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, pushed along 4 out, outpaced and no impression before 2 out, 5th of 11, 17 1/2l behind Huntsman Son (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Oct.
Siruh Du Lac (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Led, driven when hard pressed after 3 out, narrow advantage when fell heavily next, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Behind, headway under pressure 3 out, ridden and kept on after last, never reached leaders, 6th of 23, 5 1/2l behind Simply The Betts (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Saint Sonnet (FR) 33-1 (11-3) Mid-division, lost place and behind 11th, headway before 3 out, chased leaders turning in, ridden after 2 out, no impression before last, 7th of 12, 13l behind Samcro (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar.
Domaine De L'Isle (FR) 25-1 (10-12) In rear, pushed along after 5th, ridden before 3 out where hampered by faller, well adrift approaching last, plugged on, 4th of 6, 22 1/4l behind Does He Know (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (2) gd in Oct.
Brelan D'As (FR) 7-1 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, closed before 8th, dropped to 8th but still in touch when blundered 3 out, weakened after, 8th of 13, 24 3/4l behind Warthog (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Kauto Riko (FR) 50-1 (11-2) Always behind, 14th of 23, 25 1/4l behind Simply The Betts (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Pinson Du Rheu (FR) (10-12) at Auteuil 2m 7f hcp sft in May.
The Russian Doyen (IRE) 17-2 (11-11) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, pushed along 7th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, went 3rd after last, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Chirico Vallis (11-10) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Coole Cody (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, almost upsides 11th, led narrowly 3 out, ridden before 2 out, headed before last, ran on, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Southfield Stone (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Oct.
Sky Pirate 11-2fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, hit 10th, took closer order going well approaching 4 out, ridden to challenge flat, no extra final 100yds, 2nd of 14, 4 1/4l behind Cool Mix (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Fidux (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Midfield, shaken up before 3 out, left in third 2 out, ridden on run-in, battled on well to narrowly lead close home, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Court Master (10-6) by hd, 10 ran.
