towards rear, closer order to chase leaders 11th, outpaced 13th, weakened 4 out
towards rear, unseated rider 6th
in touch, ridden and weakening when fell 9th
in touch, ridden 10th, chased clear leaders 5 out, one pace
tracked leaders, led 11th, ridden and headed 3 out, no impression with winner
led, headed 6th, led again 10th, headed when not fluent 11th, with clear leaders 13th, weakened 5 out
in touch, dropped rear 7th, pulled up before next
in touch, ridden and weakened after 13th
prominent, led 6th, headed after 9th, tailed off after 13th, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, ridden and outpaced 9th, stayed on from 13th to chase leaders but no chance with winner
in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway to track leaders 7th, with clear leader 13th, led on bit 3 out, clear approaching last, shaken up flat
In the finale, Ibis Rochelais gets the vote over Yann's, Dunston Bill and King Bee The selection is only three-pounds higher in the ratings now than for a good Sandown win in February 2003. He also finished second at the Cheltenham Festival in the Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir last time, recent form that stands out here and a run that makes him worthy of the selection. Hescondido is well-weighted on his winning form of 2002, while Silver Streak, though decent on his day, has been absent for much of the last two years. Yann's looks more reasonably handicapped now and could go well, and Majed continues to run consistently but might find a couple too good again. King Bee should appreciate this easier going today following a win at Huntingdon, for which he has been raised nine pounds, but Levallois has yet to transfer his winning French form to these shores. Finally, Dunston Bill is now four-pounds lower in the ratings than for his Market Rasen win in November 2002. However, the road leads us back to Ibis Rochelais and, accordingly, he gets the nomination.
