chased leaders, not fluent 2 out, ridden and weakened from 5 out
outpaced and soon well behind, pulled up in home straight final time
chased leaders, not fluent 6th, outpaced from 5 out, weakened from 2 out
led until 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd from 6th, led approaching 5 out, bad mistake 4 out, 4 lengths clear 2 out, all out
led 1st, soon headed, led 5th, headed before not fluent 5 out, mistake 4 out, soon 3rd and held, no extra flat
led after 1st, headed 5th, weakened before 5 out, pulled up after
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 5 out, went 2nd after 4 out, 4 lengths down 2 out, stayed on flat, not reach winner
NonRunner
SOLAR IMPULSE will relish this quicker ground and runs well fresh so can reverse Doncaster form in December with Vado Forte, despite only being a pound better off. Ian Williams’ charge looks better handicapped than Amoola Gold, who finished ahead of Ashutor in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham but remains 14lb higher than when completing a double at Ascot in the autumn. Zoffee has been let down by his jumping since winning small race at Exeter with Before Midnight more reliable. Court Royale also has a chance receiving weight all round.
Ashutor (FR) 28-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, steady headway on outside from 4 out, disputing 7th when mistake 2 out, no impression, weakened last, 9th of 19, 19 1/4l behind Sky Pirate (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Larry 9-1 (11-9) In touch, closer chasing leaders 5th, pushed along before 13th, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 16, 22 1/4l behind Bennys King (11-1) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Vado Forte (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Close up in rear, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up, at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Before Midnight 7-2 (11-4) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Kempton 2m (4) pol in Feb beating Le Ligerien (11-4) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Zoffee 11-2 (11-8) Raced keenly, chased leading pair on inside until soon after 4 out, weakened before next, 6th of 7, 15 1/2l behind Onthefrontfoot (10-12) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Solar Impulse (FR) 6-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, left in 2nd 8th, led approaching 4 out, ridden after 3 out, headed narrowly last, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Vado Forte (11-1) at Doncaster 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Court Royale (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Chased leaders on inside, 3rd when switched right before 2 out, no impression and weakened before last, 3rd of 9, 16 1/2l behind Doukarov (11-8) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Amoola Gold (GER) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along and effort after 3 out, no impression on leaders and not fluent 2 out, 8th of 19, 17 1/2l behind Sky Pirate (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.