in rear, headway 6th, went 2nd 5 out, every chance 4 out, left 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner
chased leaders in 4th, blundered 8th when outpaced, weakened from next
tracked leaders in 4th, blundered 2nd, ridden before 3 out, in 2nd when fell 2 out
tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, one pace from last
led, clear 8th, headed 4 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 5 out, outpaced next, kept on from last to take 3rd run-in
held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, eased towards finish
towards rear, mistake 6th, weakened from 7th
ALWAYS ON THE RUN has probably needed his two recent runs but should be cherry-ripe now. Tom George’s six-year-old has the class to defy top weight in this on his best form though Wells De Lune is a danger after returning to winning ways over this trip at Wetherby. Mercers Court arrives on a hat-trick so can’t be ignored while Katachenko won a Grade 3 handicap at Aintree in April and is starting to come down the weights again. Amy Murphy’s mare Kalane looks the pick of the remainder.
Always On The Run (IRE) 9-4 (11-10) Soon tracked leaders, ridden and one pace 2f out, 3rd of 4, 11 1/2l behind Milgen Bay (10-2) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Katachenko (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Led until 2nd, prominent, pecked slightly 4th, ridden after 8th, outpaced before 4 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 5, 17 1/4l behind Germany Calling (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Mercers Court (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, led 2nd, clear 7th, blundered and headed 11th, chased leader, led again next, hit 4 out, pushed along when headed and not fluent 3 out, driven and 4 lengths down when left in lead 2 out, clear from last, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Dusky Lark (11-12) by 3l, 8 ran.
Tindaro (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 10th, chased clear leaders after 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 8, 31 3/4l behind Johnny Og (11-6) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Wells De Lune (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Led and soon clear until 4 out, headed before 2 out, rallied run-in, kept on well to regain lead towards finish, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Aerlite Supreme (11-8) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Shadows Lengthen 9-2 (11-12) Towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 1st, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Kalane (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) In touch, in rear, headway to 3rd 4 out, ridden next, no impression, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 6, 8 1/4l behind Desert Queen (11-0) at Market Rasen 3m lst (1) gd in Nov.
Notnowsam 25-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, 8th of 10, dist behind Wells De Lune (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.