keen early, held up mid-division, headway after 3 out (usual 4 out), soon tracked leaders, outpaced after 2 out, weakened before last, tailed off
keen early, held up behind, pushed along after 4th, behind from 3 out (usual 4 out), tailed off
raced freely, made all, clear after 2nd until after 3 out (usual 4 out), shaken up and found extra turning in, ridden out flat, stayed on well
mid-division, headway on outside after 3 out (usual 4 out), close up 2 out, ridden and stayed on to chase winner after last, always held
mistake 1st, not fluent after, always behind, struggling from 3rd, tailed off when eased before 2 out
held up, always behind, struggling 3 out (usual 4 out), soon lost touch, tailed off
mostly chased winner, close up 3 out (usual 4 out), lost place after 2 out, driven and unable to go with leaders turning in, well held in 4th before last
disputed 2nd, close up 3 out (usual 4 out), driven and lost place after 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in touch on inside, headway after 3 out (usual 4 out), driven to chase winner after 2 out, ridden before last, no extra in well held 3rd flat
held up in touch, tracked leaders after 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened after 2 out, tailed off
Paul Nicholls won last year’s renewal with Quel Destin, an import from France, and MICK PASTOR won over hurdles at Auteuil back in May before joining the champion trainer. The latter beat a subsequent Grade 1 winner on that occasion and can make a winning start in the McManus colours. Allmankind opened his account over timber at the first time of asking with a facile wide-margin victory at Warwick though faces a different test on today’s ground while Botox Has is another import from France and finished a long way in front of subsequent winner Prefontaine at Fontwell on last month’s UK debut. The latter has the beating of Nordano and Repetitio on these terms but Huntingdon runner-up Chocks Away is less exposed and preferred to French raider Thatsmyseat.
Mick Pastor (FR) (10-5) won at Auteuil 2m 1f gs in May beating Nirvana Du Berlais (10-12) by 6l, 15 ran.
Admirals Bay (GER) 9-4fav (9-4) Close up, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Narina (9-6) at Chepstow 1m 4f hcp (6) gd in Jul.
Allmankind 5-2 (10-12) Took keen hold, made all, clear after 3 out, easily, won at Warwick 2m (4) gs in Nov beating Gaia Vallis (10-5) by 37l, 5 ran.
Botox Has (FR) 6-4jfav (10-12) Jumped best, made all, clear 3 out, ridden out, unchallenged, won at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Oct beating Prefontaine (10-12) by 18l, 4 ran.
Chocks Away (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, challenged 3 out, led and mistake 2 out, headed before last, held flat, kept on, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Nordano (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Green Etoile 5-2 (11-4) Chased winner until after 4th, pushed along next, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Must See The Doc (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (3) gs in Aug.
Nordano (GER) 5-2fav (10-12) Led until before 4th, pressed leader, in front again next, urged along before 3 out, joined last, headed and no extra run-in, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Langer Dan (10-12) at Wetherby 2m lst (1) gs in Nov.
Prefontaine (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Made all, went left and not fluent 4 out, drew clear after next, ridden out flat, always doing enough, won at Kempton 2m (3) gd in Oct beating Paseo (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Repetitio (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Held up, pushed along in 5th before 3 out, kept on run-in, just missed 2nd, no chance with winner, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Nordano (11-4) at Chepstow 2m (4) sft in Oct.
Thatsmyseat (FR) (10-3) 3rd of 6, 10 1/2l behind Gosphore (11-0) at Lyon-Parilly 2m 1f sft in Oct.
Dawn Treader (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) In touch, headway approaching and mistake 3 out, weakened after next, 5th of 9, 34 1/4l behind Building Bridges (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Nov.
