held up towards rear, headway on outside 5th, not fluent next, led before 3 out, headed 2 out, no impression on winner before last, stayed on same pace
prominent, lost place before 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, closed after 6th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
always towards rear, well behind before 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden and lost place after 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway before 7th, lost place and not much room before 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, no impression
held up, headway after 7th, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, well beaten before 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, hit 7th, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, eased towards finish
tracked leaders, lost place before 7th, well beaten approaching 3 out, tailed off
in touch, challenged after 7th, every chance when not fluent 3 out, mistake 2 out, weakened last
mid-division, struggling before 7th, well behind when pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, well behind when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, ridden and weakened before 3 out, mistake at 3 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, 3rd and one pace from 2 out
led until before 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and struggling before 6th, tailed off after next, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, not fluent 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
Nonrunner
Definitely Better is 10lb higher than when successful last year and his recent form doesn't advertise his chances of a follow-up. Duke's Affair has won two of his last three, however, following his return from a lay-off and is preferred to stable companion Brave Deed. Newton Abbot third Sheer Poetry also has claims and Ice Konig has run on the Flat since landing a Newton Abbot seller in June. Buckboru has dropped down the weights again since finishing fourth over a longer trip here in March but we'll take a chance on WAR AND CONTRITION. He was much too keen at Ffos Las last month but did hint at ability around the turn of the year at Towcester and Leicester and still has time on his side.
Doctor Look Here (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up, outpaced 3 out, soon well beaten, 4th of 6, 20l behind Storm Of Swords (11-12) at Worcester 2m (4) gd in May.
Sheer Poetry (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Prominent until after 1st, tracked leaders, ridden when hampered and left 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, 3rd and one pace from last, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Fuse Wire (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
What Larks (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) In touch, lost place and reminders after 6th, behind when hampered 4 out, pulled up next, at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Ice Konig (FR) 7-2fav (10-8) Chased clear leaders, took closer order over 3f out, ridden to challenge over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 5th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Jordaura (10-11) at Ripon 1m 3f hcp (6) gd in Aug.
War And Contrition (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Raced freely, soon led, jumped right throughout, headed after 4th, rallied 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 9, 21l behind Wild Rover (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Mexican Border (GER) 5-1 (11-3) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway tracking leaders before 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before next, at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Definitely Better (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear on outside, headway before 6th, lost place next, pulled up before 2 out, at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Sarenice (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Raced widest of all, chased leaders, challenged 3 out, led well before next, driven and edged left flat, stayed on under pressure, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp (5) hvy in Dec beating Dalrymple (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Brave Deed (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leader until after 3 out, kept on same pace and no impression, held on for modest 3rd, 3rd of 15, 21l behind Baldadash (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Apr.
Arquebusier (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, closed on outside 6th, weakened after next, pulled up before 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Buckboru (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Towards rear, plugged on after 3 out, went modest 4th run-in, 4th of 12, 18 1/2l behind Black Narcissus (10-3) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Positive Vibes 16-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, pulled up, at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Prince of Thieves (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, struggling 4 out, soon pulled up, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) gd in May.
Tomsk (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, dist behind Midnight Shot (11-5) at Southwell 2m (4) gd in May.
Precious Ground 25-1 (10-2) Not that fluent in rear, always behind, 6th of 12, dist behind Howaboutnow (11-12) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Dunmallet Belle 8-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost place 5th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 13, 29l behind Midnight Mint (11-7) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Haverstock 7-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, one pace before next, 5th of 11, 5 1/2l behind Native Display (11-9) at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Petite Fantasie 8-1 (11-3) Chased leader until after 1st, went left next, chased leaders, pushed along before 11th, weakened soon after, lost touch before 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Band Of Thunder (10-9) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in May.
Duke's Affair 9-4fav (10-11) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, led 7th, pressed 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on, in command towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Oct beating Icanmotor (10-0) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
