tracked leaders, ridden and every chance last, ran on to lead close home
held up towards rear, hampered bend approaching 4 out, ridden next, never on terms
in rear, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up last
towards rear, wide and headway 18th, ridden and weakened 2 out
led, ridden 2 out, pressed next, headed run in, stayed on
raced wide, tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace
raced wide close up, lost place 18th, badly hampered bend approaching 4 out, pulled up 2 out
tracked leader, ridden and every chance 2 out, led run in, headed close home
raced wide, in touch, lost action bend approaching 4 out, pulled up
in rear, pushed along 9th, ridden 12th, behind 17th
NonRunner
Tommie Beau won this last year, one of three victories on the track in four visits. MIDNIGHT MARY won at Wetherby under Bryony Frost in January and has subsequently finished runner-up three times, form that could be good enough for this. Duc De Beauchene went up 11lb for scoring at Wincanton but then ran well at Kempton so he can go well despite a big weight while Flying Verse has won ten races and wasn't far off another when only headed at the last at Perth. Wake Up Early scored at Sedgefield then couldn't handle the step-up to this grade at Cheltenham.
Duc De Beauchene (FR) 10-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, went second before 3 out, ridden and every chance before next, ran on flat, not pace of winner, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Latitude (11-9) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Tommie Beau (IRE) 15-2 (12-1) Mid-division, cajoled along at times, ridden after 4 out, lost touch 3 out, 6th of 8, 36 1/4l behind Kayf Hernando (11-11) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Shetland Bus (GER) 25-1 (11-13) In rear, not fluent 12th, pushed along 3 out, never on terms, 5th of 8, 19 1/4l behind Kayf Hernando (11-11) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Coup De Pinceau (FR) 33-1 (11-11) Mid-division, towards rear when not fluent 14th, behind when mistake next, pulled up before 17th, at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Wake Up Early (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division, no impression 19th, 8th of 20, 18 1/4l behind Madera Mist (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Midnight Mary 9-4 (12-2) Led, shaken up before 3 out, pushed along next, faced challenge approaching last, headed flat, no extra close home, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Walk In Clover (12-1) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Captain Tommy (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) In touch in rear, pushed along 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 7, 25 1/2l behind Annsam (12-2) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Jony Max (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Held up off the pace in rear, driven along and struggling 5 out, went past tiring rivals from 3 out, stayed on into modest fourth after 2 out, never a factor, 4th of 8, 26l behind Don Alvaro (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gf in Nov.
Flying Verse 9-1 (12-0) Prominent, led after 3rd, mistake 8th, not fluent 9th or 11th, mistake 2 out, headed last, held flat, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Victory Echo (10-11) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gs in Apr.
D'jango (FR) 150-1 (10-2) Behind, closer in mid-division out wide after 10th, soon chasing leaders, weakened before 19th, soon behind, tailed off 4 out, 13th of 16, dist behind Kitty's Light (10-8) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Nearly Perfect 28-1 (11-9) Prominent on outside, lost place before 3rd, pushed along before 13th, not fluent 15th or 17th, mistake and behind 19th, pulled up before 4 out, at Perth 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Apr.