mid-division, headway after 3rd, chased winner approaching 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, ridden, headway 4th, weakened 3 out
always towards rear, no impression
prominent, ridden 5th, soon weakened
prominent, led after 4th, clear after 5th, eased from last, very easy
mid-division, ridden 4th, soon weakened
always towards rear, no impression
chased leader, ridden 5th, one pace from 3 out
led to after 4th, ridden, weakened next
prominent, ridden, outpaced 5th, stayed on from 2 out
mid-division, ridden, headway 5th, stayed on from 3 out
towards rear, ridden, headway approaching 4th, kept on well to go 2nd 2 out
held up mid-division, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out
chased leader, ridden after 3 out, weakened flat
always behind, no impression
A very competitive event for the track this one but Mille Et Une could prove to be a handicap snip here and is taken to land it on his British debut, while Thedreamstillalive and Pavillion Bleu are among those with chances. Alan King now has care of Mille Et Une, who was last seen running Grand Bleu close in a Listed hurdle at Enghien. Grand Bleu has sine run to a mark of 145 at Haydock and given that Mille Et Une is rated just 122 here he may have got in lightly for his first start here so he is the pick. Thedreamstillalive won a couple of chases in the spring and is 15lb 'well in' here compared to his chase mark, so his chance is also respected. Pavillion Bleu is another making his British debut and won at Auteuil last time out on soft ground, so has conditions to suit. Silver Sister can also go well with his useful claimer on board after a Taunton win last time, while both Gauvain and Coda Agency look in need of a drop in the weights. Compton Star has to defy an 8lb rise and Equilibria is up 5lb for a Folkestone win on heavy, so neither is without hope, but Mille Et Une could be very well treated here and gets the vote.
Manhattan Boy (GER) 20-1 (10-3) Held up, some headway from 3 out, 5th 2 out, no extra, 5th of 14, 5l behind Mon Michel (10-4) at Newbury 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft.
Mille Et Une (FR) (10-3) Led halfway, headed run-in, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Grand Bleu (10-12) at Enghien 2m 2f lst hdl (1) in Oct.
Dalaram (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Always in rear, 14th of 15, well behind Michael Muck (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Silver Sister 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 6th, not fluent 7th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Hendre Hotshot (10-9) at N Abbot 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Gauvain (GER) 7-4 (10-12) Held up mid-division, jumped slowly 6th, headway 4 out, chased winner after next, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 13l behind Swordsman (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Grand Slam Hero (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Mid-division, mistakes, blundered and unseated rider at the 10th in race won by Lawyer Des Ormeaux (10-12) at Stratford 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in Aug, 9 ran.
Thenford Flyer (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) In touch, ridden 3 out, beaten when hit last, switched left and some headway flat, 4th of 7, 19l behind Ring The Boss (11-3) at Newbury 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Coda Agency 16-1 (11-5) Led to 2nd, chased leader, led next, ridden and headed before 2 out, kept on but always held, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Osako D'airy (11-5) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy.
Soliya (FR) 10-3 (11-1) Led, driven and headed 2 out, rallied gamely under pressure flat to regain lead close home, won at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Nov beating Summer of Love (10-11) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Pimbury (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway to chase winner after 4 out, soon ridden, no extra approaching last, 4th of 12, 14l behind Original Fly (10-10) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Equilibria (USA) 5-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, headway between last 2, driven before last, stayed on to lead close home, won at Folkestone 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy beating Ndola (10-11) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Pavillon Bleu (FR) (10-3) Held up, headway 3 out, led run-in, comfortably, won at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl in Oct beating Profumo D'auteuil (10-6) by 1l, 16 ran.
Compton Star 5-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, good headway 3 out, chased leader approaching 2 out, soon led, shaken up and pushed clear from last, won at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft beating Prime Contender (11-8) by 5l, 11 ran.
Wazalino 100-1 (10-12) Led and blundered 1st, headed 8th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, last of 14, well behind Cryptic (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Thedreamstillalive (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (11-3) Left in lead 2nd, hard pressed from 4 out, pecked badly 3 out, hit last, drifted left flat, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (4) gd in Mar beating Ice Bucket (11-3) by 1l, 6 ran.
Biscar Two (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Held up, driven 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Sninfia (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f cnd sll hdl (5) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
