mid-division on inside, headway 9th, outpaced before 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, led briefly between last 2, ridden to lead again flat, stayed on well closing stages
held up behind on outside, headway after 4 out, tracked leaders after next, ridden before last, went 3rd and kept on same pace flat, no impression with front pair
chased leaders, lost place when hit 3 out, outpaced and no impression from next
led, headed narrowly 8th, blundered 4 out, led again before next, headed between last 2, ridden and weakened from last
held up behind on inside, outpaced when ridden after 2 out, never a threat
tracked leader, led narrowly 8th, headed before 3 out, lost place after next, weakened from last
held up behind on outside, headway after 2 out, came towards stands side rail and led narrowly before last, soon ridden, headed flat, no extra closing stages
mid-division on outside, tracked leaders halfway, ridden to challenge before last, no extra and well held in 4th flat
This looks between the three at the top of the weights though Rocky's Treasure may be at a disadvantage given he’s having his first outing since winning at Ffos Las in April and is 9lb higher in the weights. Dell' Arca is upped 10lb for winning at Newbury last week but had finished fourth behind THOMAS CAMPBELL over 3m here before that. Nicky Henderson’s charge also has a hike in the weights to contend with but a conditional’s 7lb allowance helps on that score and he’s taken to go in again. Last year’s winner Anteros was already beaten when falling behind the selection last time and Kk Lexion may prove a bigger threat.
Dell' Arca (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, soon hung left, every chance when not fluent next, led before last, driven clear, ran on strongly, won at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Whataknight (11-12) by 6l, 12 ran.
Thomas Campbell 5-2fav (11-1) Always prominent on outside, challenged 2 out, led narrowly before last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Milrow (10-0) by 2 1/4l, 17 ran.
Rocky's Treasure (IRE) 10-3fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, steady headway on inside before 8th, led 2 out, ridden clear and edged right before last, stayed on strongly, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Driftwood Haze (11-4) by 3l, 12 ran.
Connetable (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division on outside, driven and outpaced before 3 out, soon lost place, no danger after, 10th of 17, 12 1/4l behind Thomas Campbell (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Solatentif (FR) 20-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway on outside before 3 out, driven and outpaced after next, no impression before last, 8th of 17, 11 3/4l behind Thomas Campbell (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Kk Lexion (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway on inside after 3 out, led next, ridden and headed narrowly when not fluent last, one pace, 3rd of 21, 11l behind Master Dancer (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Rolling Maul (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, lost place when ridden after 2 out, weakened last, 9th of 17, 11 3/4l behind Thomas Campbell (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Anteros (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Held up behind, mistake 6th, driven after 3 out, headway under pressure between last 2, chased leaders when fell last, at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Nuits Premier Cru (FR) (11-0) 3rd of 9, 10 1/4l behind Courvite (11-0) at Vichy 2m 2f in Sep.