tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, 2nd next, no extra in 3rd at last, kept on same pace inside final furlong
rear of mid-division on outer, niggled along on outer 4th, in rear at halfway and eased after 4 out
rear of mid-division, dropped to rear and pushed along at 5th, soon ridden, some progress after 3 out, kept on one pace
towards rear, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
disputed lead early, headed 2nd, remained prominent, improved to lead 3 out, pushed along from 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, reduced advantage close home
in rear, bumped at 1st, headway from 4 out, pushed along in 8th on outer 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
mid-division, headway into 5th 3 out, soon ridden, dropped to 6th next, no impression
tracked leaders on inner, dropped to mid-division at halfway, ridden in 7th after 3 out, 5th next, no impression
mid-division, no impression from 4 out, weakened
in rear, headway 4 out, 6th next, ridden in 3rd and slight mistake 2 out, 4th at last, stayed on well run-in to go 2nd close home
rear of mid-division, under pressure 5th, no impression from next, never a factor
tracked leaders, took keen hold, 4th 3 out, soon ridden, 4th 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on same pace and dropped to 3rd close home
disputed lead early, led from 2nd, slight mistakes 3rd and 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened
disputed lead early, raced on outer, headed 2nd, dropped to mid-division and no impression from 4 out, weakened
A nice prize has attracted a strong field including Nicky Henderson's Rathill, who beat a big field of maidens on his hurdling bow at Newbury before finding Grade 1 company in the Tolworth at Sandown beyond him. His owner is also represented by JANIDIL (NAP), who didn't have much to beat at Tipperary but did it very easily and looks on a lenient mark for his handicap debut. Arthur's Quay is another J P McManus entry and there was plenty to like about his Listowel victory while it would be no shock to see last year's winner Golden Spear bounce back to form despite a 9lb rise. Shumaker has won three handicaps in succession, going up 24lb in the process, though is still at the right end of the handicap.
Hearts Are Trumps (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden to press leaders 2 out, close 3rd before last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Davids Charm (11-4) at Listowel 2m hcp Yielding in Sep.
Rathhill (IRE) 6-5fav (11-7) Tracked leading pair on inside, pushed along after 3 out, struggling and beaten before next, eased, 4th of 5, 11 3/4l behind Elixir De Nutz (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Count Simon (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Prominent, slow jump 1st and lost position, disputed 5th after 5th, soon progress on inner to be close up, under pressure from 9th and lost place again, no extra approaching 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Macgiloney (11-6) at Down Royal 3m gd in Aug.
Star Maker 33-1 (10-4) Towards rear for most, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace from before last, 10th of 14, 9 1/2l behind Davids Charm (11-4) at Listowel 2m hcp Yielding in Sep.
Janidil (FR) 1-3fav (11-4) Made all, pushed along from 2 out, asserted and stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Tipperary 2m mdn Yielding in Oct beating Tiger Voice (11-8) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Arthur's Quay (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Mid-division early, closer in 6th halfway, 3rd 4 out, improved to lead before 2 out, ridden and pressed after 2 out, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Listowel 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Sep beating You Raised Me Up (11-12) by 2l, 14 ran.
La Sorelita (FR) 5-1 (9-10) Disputed lead early, soon led, slight mistake 4th, joined from 3 out, mistake last, soon no extra and one pace, 4th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Star Maker (10-0) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in May.
Allez Dance (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Waited with in 6th, pushed along and headway 2 out, no impression approaching straight in 4th, kept on same pace without threatening in 3rd from last, 3rd of 7, 13 1/4l behind Elfile (11-4) at Punchestown 2m lst (1) Good - Yielding in May.
Polished Steel (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along and lost place 2 out, soon no extra, 6th of 9, 16 1/2l behind Play The Game (11-7) at Listowel 2m hcp gd in Jun.
Try Again (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Towards rear, slight mistake 1st, pushed along and closer entering straight, slight mistake 2 out, soon no extra, 7th of 10, 22l behind Share The Honour (10-2) at Tipperary 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Oct.
Free Ranger (IRE) 5-1cfav (9-3) Held up mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th entering straight, no impression from 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 10l behind Jazz Lady (9-4) at Galway 1m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Shumaker (IRE) 9-10fav (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd after 3rd, headway to lead approaching straight, asserted before 2 out where jumped left, jumped left again at last and reduced advantage, driven out, won at Wexford 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct beating Crazyheart (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Cool Colonnade (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Waited with in rear, left in 2nd with sole rival before 5th, slightly slow 8th, pushed along briefly before straight, soon taken to stand's side, under pressure from 2 out, not match winner before last, one pace, 2nd of 4, 7 1/2l behind Jan Maat (11-1) at Punchestown 2m 3f (1) Yielding in Oct.
Curious Times (IRE) 13-2fav (11-6) Soon raced in 6th, not fluent 4th, still tracking leaders when bad mistake and unseated rider 3 out, at Punchestown 2m hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Golden Spear 25-1 (9-0) Mid-division early, soon held up towards rear, ridden 5f out, no impression over 3f out, soon no extra, eased over 2f out, 16th of 18, dist behind Royal Illusion (8-12) at Curragh 2m hcp sft in Oct.
