led to 2nd, remained prominent on outside, lost place before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, led 2nd to 4th, with leader, driven and lost place after 2 out, no impression before last
held up in touch, tracked leaders 3 out (usual 4 out), upsides 2 out, every chance when not fluent last, ridden and stayed on well towards stands side rail flat, just held
raced keenly, prominent, led 4th, ridden when narrowly headed turning in, regained lead last, kept on, headed and dropped to 3rd final strides
mid-division, chased leaders 2 out, driven and one pace before last, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway on long run before 2 out, driven to chase leaders turning in, ridden after last, stayed on strongly flat, led narrowly final strides
held up, always in rear, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway on inside 2 out, driven to chase leaders turning in, one pace when hit last, never able to challenge
held up in touch, driven and outpaced after 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, never able to challenge
in touch on outside, blundered 2nd, lost place after 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in touch on inside, headway 2 out, led narrowly turning in, ridden and headed last, kept on, held towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened soon after
mid-division on outside, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division on inside, driven to chase leaders after 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th and no impression when fell last
NonRunner
MONSIEUR LECOQ is worth another try at this level having got the better of a fight to the line with Le Prezien at Ffos Las on his reappearance. Testing going is not a problem and he finished ahead of Benny's Bridge when runner-up in the Imperial Cup at Sandown earlier in the year. The latter also finished behind third-placed Humble Hero at Sandown in April while Quel Destin got his head back in front with a course and distance success last month and is 7lb higher today. Quoi De Neuf will be sharper for last month’s second at Chepstow and has plenty of scope along with Ascot Listed handicap winner Gumball while Richard Johnson is back on board the latter’s stablemate and recent Newbury winner Zanza. Dame De Compagnie won over a longer trip here in the April of last year and Barry Geraghty prefers him to stable companion Countister despite the lay-off.
Mohaayed 12-1 (11-10) Prominent until weakened 5th, tailed off, last of 10, dist behind Monsieur Lecoq (10-10) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Quel Destin (FR) 7-2 (11-6) Always prominent on outside, went 2nd 4 out, came towards stands side rail and driven turning in, ridden to lead flat, just held on near finish, won at Cheltenham 2m (2) hvy in Oct beating Soviet Pimpernel (10-12) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Gumball (FR) 11-2 (11-6) Made all, clear before 2 out, ridden approaching last, just held on, won at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Nov beating Red Force One (10-6) by nk, 15 ran.
Monsieur Lecoq (FR) 7-2 (10-10) Held up in touch, led on bit 3 out, driven out flat, held on well, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp (2) sft in Oct beating Le Prezien (11-7) by shd, 10 ran.
Countister (FR) 11-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, 6th 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 12th of 16, 23 1/2l behind Ivanovich Gorbatov (10-12) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Harambe 11-2 (11-0) Raced keenly, held up mid-division on inside, dropped towards rear, 6th, no danger after, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, 31 1/4l behind Thyme Hill (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f (1) gs in Oct.
Benny's Bridge (IRE) 5-2fav (11-3) Held up in rear, steady headway before 2 out, tracked leaders on inside turning, left disputing lead last, ridden to lead flat, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Falcon Sun (10-8) by 8l, 13 ran.
Zanza (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders approaching next, led run-in, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Westbrook Bertie (11-1) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Dame De Compagnie (FR) 13-8fav (11-0) Mid-division, took closer order approaching 5th, chased leaders 3 out, every chance when mistake last, led 100 yards out, stayed on strongly, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f lst (1) gd in Apr beating Just Janice (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Humble Hero (IRE) 4-9fav (11-4) Mid-division, jumped left 1st, headway after 6th, chased winner before 3 out, 2 lengths down and pushed along when fell 2 out, at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Quoi De Neuf (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders on inside, hit 3 out, led before next, ridden and headed approaching last, not pace of winner run-in, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Speed Company (10-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Torcello (IRE) 2-1fav (9-2) Tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, battled on gamely, all out, won at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (3) sft in Oct beating Escapability (8-10) by shd, 10 ran.
Monsieur D'Arque (IRE) 2-5fav (11-6) Chased leader until 3 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before next, 4th of 8, 26l behind River Bray (11-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) gd in Apr.
De Mazzaro (IRE) 7-2fav (10-2) Chased leader, 4th after halfway, 5th before 2 out, headway on inner after 2 out, short of room and switched left in 3rd before last, ridden to lead final 150 yards, kept on well, won at Galway 2m hcp sft in Oct beating Top Moon (11-4) by 3l, 10 ran.
Grapevine (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) Held up and behind, hit 3 out, effort before 2 out, ridden approaching last, no further progress, 7th of 15, 9 3/4l behind Gumball (11-6) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
