held up, towards rear, headway 4 out, chased front pair before 2 out, ridden and effort between last 2, kept on same pace flat
mid-division, tracked leaders 3rd, went 2nd 4 out, driven to challenge last, soon ridden, stayed on to lead closing stages
behind, outpaced 4 out, never on terms, weakened 2 out
chased leaders to 3rd, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, tracked leaders 3rd, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, weakened between last 2
held up, in rear, outpaced before 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on into 4th between last 2, never troubled leaders
tracked leader, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led, hit 3rd, ridden after 3 out, hard pressed last, kept on until headed and no extra closing stages
This used to be known as the Free Handicap and always attracts a strong entry. Paul Nicholls targets the race and has had four of the last nine winners. Grade 3 winner Diego Du Charmil is his entry this time and will find this easier than the Grade1 he contested at Aintree backing April. Top weights have been successful in four of the last eight renewals and GIBRALFARO (NAP) can give that strike-rate a boost. He never figured when trapped wide in the Triumph Hurdle in March but had been ante-post favourite for that race after winning his first two hurdle starts and obviously goes well fresh. French import El Terremoto is worth following and this going will suit Cobra De Mai, who possibly found 2m3f too far at Newbury in April. But Jaboltiski starts the season on a high enough mark while Furiously Fast beat lesser opposition at Hereford on Thursday and carries a penalty.
Gibralfaro (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division on outside, headway before 3 out, effort after next, one pace before last, well held after, 9th of 15, 19 1/2l behind Ivanovich Gorbatov (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
Diego Du Charmil (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Held up in touch in mid-division, closed before 6th, ridden in 5th approaching 3 out, soon well held by winner, 4th from 2 out, 4th of 9, dist behind Apple's Jade (10-7) at Aintree 2m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Jaboltiski (SPA) 5-1 (11-8) Held up in last trio, never on terms, 7th of 10, 24l behind Duke Street (11-3) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Seven Kingdoms (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Led to 1st, tracked winner, carried right 1st bend, lost place after 4 out, behind from next, soon weakened, 7th of 8, dist behind Nabhan (10-12) at Newbury 2m (4) sft in Mar.
El Terremoto (FR) (10-7) 2nd of 7, 2l behind Alix Pretty (10-7) at Cagnes-sur-Mer 2m 2f sft in Dec.
Cobra De Mai (FR) 11-1 (10-10) Held up in last pair, headway 3 out, 3rd 2 out, 2nd soon after, ridden and no impression approaching last, one pace run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Duke Street (11-3) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Borak (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, struggling, over 4f out, never dangerous, 6th of 7, 29 1/2l behind An Fear Ciuin (8-12) at Chester 2m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Furiously Fast (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, ridden to lead before last, kept on, won at Hereford 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Octagon (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
