tracked leader, every chance last, led closing stages, all out
led, not fluent 2nd, strongly challenged after 2 out, headed after last, kept on under pressure
mid-division, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, beaten 3 out, tailed off
behind, not fluent 1st, mistake 2nd, under pressure 4 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before next
chased leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, every chance last, no extra closing stages
chased leaders, effort 3 out, soon under pressure, weakening when mistake next, tailed off, modest 4th
NonRunner
Khage’s form looks superior to that of fellow previous winner Dr Sanderson and Harry Whittington’s charge sets the standard. The Crooner finished third on his debut for Venetia Williams at Warwick and is almost certainly capable of better. Olympic Odyssey is another likely improver while Pond Road has run a couple of promising races in bumpers. But we’ll take a chance on newcomer YAA SALAAM, a winner five times on the Flat in Germany. He’s been given plenty of time to acclimatise to new surroundings and his half-sister Fanaan Aldaar won over hurdles in Ireland.
Dr Sanderson (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Held up towards rear on outside, headway when jumped left 5th, ridden after 2 out, 3rd and weakening before last, 4th of 13, 22 1/2l behind Star Of Lanka (10-12) at Hereford 2m 4f (4) gs in Nov.
Khage (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Led, not fluent 2nd, not fluent 4 out, soon headed and ridden, lost place after 3 out, 7th of 8, 31l behind Pistol Whipped (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 4f (3) gs in Feb.
Paxman (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Tracked winner, a close 4th and looking one pace when fell 2 out, at Taunton 2m (4) gd in Dec.
Pond Road (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Led 2f, remained prominent, driven over 5f out, soon lost place, 4th of 11, 11 1/4l behind Jelski (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m (5) sft in Jan.
Tiger's Legacy 50-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 3f out, 12th of 15, 31 1/4l behind Drunken Pirate (11-0) at Newbury 2m (5) gs in Nov.
Yaa Salaam (IRE) (9-0) 5th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Dirk (9-0) at San Siro 1m 1f Grp 3 gd in Sep.
Olympic Odyssey 6-1 (10-12) Held up in last pair, never on terms, 8th of 11, 30 1/4l behind Beat The Judge (10-12) at Kempton 2m (2) gs in Dec.
Havana River (IRE) 2-1 (11-11) Tr ldr in 2nd until ld bef 5th, 1 1/2l adv 6out & sl adv 3out, hdd bef last, no ex early flat, later awarded the race, 2nd of 16, 3l behind Ellie Jack (11-6) at Tralee 3m mdn gd in May.
The Crooner (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Prominent, challenged 5th, led 3 out, driven and hard pressed from 2 out, headed flat, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Laskadine (10-11) at Warwick 2m (4) gs in Jan.
