held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden run-in, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, weakened after 2 out
prominent, weakened after 2 out
held up in rear, headway before 2 out, ridden run-in, led narrowly last 75 yards, held on near finish
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led after 2 out, ridden run-in, headed narrowly last 75 yards, just held near finish
held up in touch, went 3rd before last and soon ridden, kept on
with leader, hit 1st, weakened from 2 out
led, headed after 2 out, ridden and no extra run-in
A cracking renewal of a race which has thrown up a few decent winners in recent years. Dodging Bullets won it in 2012 for Paul Nicholls, who run Qualando this time. He won the Fred Winter at The Festival and a line through fifth All Yours puts him somewhere near DEVILMENT. John Ferguson's Aintree runner-up just gets the nod, however, as he has the beating of Stars Over The Sea and Hargam on his run at Liverpool having earlier finished a place behind Hargam in the Triumph Hurdle, when he probably found the ground too soft. Lil Rockerfeller is held on Doncaster running in February but it will be interesting to see if there is any support for Fou Et Sage on his first start for Dan Skelton given he had form at a decent level in France. Tea In Transvaal was completing a four-timer when beating Karezak at Chepstow but the second will surely reverse that form today on 8lb better terms.
Hargam (FR) 4-6fav (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out to tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, no extra from last, 6th of 10, 5 3/4l behind All Yours (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Fou Et Sage (FR) 7-1fav (10-10) 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Bonito Du Berlais (10-10) at Auteuil 2m 2f Grp 3 (1) sft in Apr.
Qualando (FR) 7-2fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden in 5th 3 out, soon no impression, 7th of 10, 32 1/2l behind Petite Parisienne (10-7) at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in May.
Devilment 8-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led before 2 out, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind All Yours (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Karezak (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, challenged 4 out, led next, headed before last, stayed with every chance until held close home, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Tea In Transvaal (10-9) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Lil Rockerfeller (USA) 2-1fav (8-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, wandered right well over 1f out, soon went left, headed and not quicken final 100 yards, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Highland Castle (9-7) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in May.
Stars Over The Sea (USA) 12-1 (11-8) Prominent, not fluent 3rd, every chance 4 out, lost place 2 out, weakened before last, 8th of 12, 13 3/4l behind Tea In Transvaal (10-9) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Tea In Transvaal (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Tracked leader after 1st, led next, headed 3 out, led again before last, strongly pressed thereafter, pulled out more towards finish, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Karezak (11-10) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
