chased leaders, not fluent 8th, lost place and given reminders, rallied 3 out, led after 2 out, stayed on well flat, saddle slipped backwards
chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, 4th and outpaced before last, well held flat
never going well, not fluent 2nd, behind 7th, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, closed going strongly 7th, led 2 out, soon headed, 3rd and outpaced flat, no extra final 100 yards
held up in rear, headway going well 8th, not fluent 4 out, went 2nd last, ridden flat, always just held, stayed on
prominent, not fluent 1st, led after next, clear 3rd until after 6th, headed 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, outpaced 8th, well beaten when mistake 2 out, kept on flat
led until after 2nd, chased leader, not fluent 3rd, led 3 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened
Drumlee Watar has done nothing but improve this year but this is is his stiffest task to date and DRAGON BONES (NAP), a Listed winner in March, is preferred. Her only defeat over hurdles so far came when she unseated her rider at Southwell later and she has already won twice over this trip. Bardenstown Lad is proving consistent and Onagatheringstorm looks a nice staying prospect but Grace A Vous Enki failed to land the odds at Worcester when making her UK debut. Calagogo is on a four-timer but this represents a significant step up in class.
Bardenstown Lad 85-40fav (11-8) In touch, 4th after 6th, 3rd 4 out, improved to 2nd after 3 out, 3rd 2 out, ridden and no impression on leaders at last, kept on well run-in, held, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Tullybeg (11-12) at Navan 2m 6f gd in Sep.
Calagogo (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) Made all, ridden after 3 out, 1 length advantage when mistake last, under pressure and kept on well run-in, won at Killarney 2m 7f Yielding in Aug beating Molly Wedger (11-2) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Drumlee Watar (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Made all, jumped left 4th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on gamely, holding 2nd towards finish, won at Perth 3m hcp (3) gs in Sep beating Teescomponents Lad (11-3) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Onagatheringstorm (IRE) 4-6fav (11-6) Tracked leader in 2nd, left in front 4th, briefly joined 6th, not fluent when led narrowly 7th, upped tempo and led after the 8th, shaken up after 3 out, ridden and in command after 2 out, maintained advantage closing stages, won at Aintree 3m 1f (4) gd in May beating Mister Sweets (11-0) by 11l, 3 ran.
Dragon Bones 5-6fav (11-8) Tracked leader, raced freely, pressed leader run to 2 out, hung left and hampered rival when led narrowly 2 out, edged left when in front run to the last, pushed out, won at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (3) gd in May beating Dancing Dani (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Almazhar Garde (FR) 5-1 (11-4) Led, headed briefly 11th, disputed lead after the 12th, headed after 4 out, soon weakened and in rear, 6th of 9, dist behind Captain Tommy (10-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) gd in May.
Grace A Vous Enki (FR) 8-11fav (10-12) Pressed winner, led 2nd until before 7th, led again next until after 4 out, hit next, switched left between last 2, over 1 length down last, driven and stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Colorado Doc (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gs in Oct.
Siruh Du Lac (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Disputing lead when awkward and unseated rider 1st, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
