held up, headway from 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
held up towards rear, effort approaching 8th, pushed along next, weakened approaching 2 out
led, hit 3rd, hit 9th, ridden after 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace flat
held up towards rear, headway 8th, slightly outpaced after 2 out, stayed on flat
chased leader, hit 5th, lost 2nd 7th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
mid-division, not fluent 6th, headway after 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, led approaching last, kept on well flat
in touch, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon beaten
held up and behind, headway 9th, went 2nd approaching 2 out until approaching last, weakened last
mid-division, effort 8th, weakened from 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, lost place 7th, in rear and plenty to do 2 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on run-in nearest finish
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th until approaching 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up, mistake 9th, no headway, well behind when pulled up before last
Millenium Royal was a fortuitous winner at Haydock last time and Francois Doumen's gelding looks harshly treated off a 6lb higher mark today so looks worth taking on and it is Leading Contender that gets the vote, with Onnix rated the pick of the remainder. The selection has run well in both starts this term, both here at Cheltenham and the Phillip Hobbs-trained gelding should have no problems with the step up in trip today. Charlie Longsdon's Iwillrememberyou has come back in good form this term but a 17lb rise for his recent success in bottomless ground at Plumpton is extreme at the least. Jim Old's Attorney General gave little sign for encouragement on his return and of more interest may be Francois Doumen's French raider Onnix who is making his British debut. Leading Contender has solid claims on form shown this term though and it is he that gets the verdict.
Millenium Royal (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, ridden approaching 3 out, left in lead last, driven out, won at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov beating Sonnyanjoe (10-10) by 2 1/2l, 18 ran.
Attorney General (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, mistake 7th, behind when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Over The Creek (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs, 12 ran.
Wild Cane Ridge (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, lost place 2nd, jumped slow 6th, behind when mistake 7th, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Opera Mundi (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov, 13 ran.
Onnix (FR) (10-12) Led 5 out, headed and no extra after last, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Behnasan (10-8) at Enghien 2m 3f hdl sft in Nov.
Gold Gun (USA) 25-1 (10-0) In touch early, behind final circuit, 7th of 9, 38l behind Sonnyanjoe (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Nov.
Leading Contender (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway from 3 out, chased leaders 2 out, one pace under pressure flat, 4th of 19, 3l behind Mendo (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Spring Breeze 33-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, weakened from 7th, tailed off, 12th of 15, 46l behind Souffleur (10-6) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Iwillrememberyou (IRE) 4-11fav (11-10) Held up in rear, smooth headway 8th, led 3 out, soon clear, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft beating Spider Boy (9-7) by 8l, 9 ran.
Jockser (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Behind, pushed along after 4 out, never a factor, 7th of 20, 27l behind Eden Linty (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Hennessy (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Tracked leaders, chased winner 13th, jumped badly left 3 out and 2 out, stayed on again flat, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Over The Creek (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs.
All Noble (IRE) 3-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on to lead last, driven out flat, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov beating Ace High Blue (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Tarkesar (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden behind leaders 2 out, soon no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 13l behind Royal Prodigy (9-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
