held up in handy 5th, headway on outside over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden and went 2nd 2f out, led approaching final furlong, stayed on well
held up in 6th, steady headway 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, almost snatched 3rd
disputed lead 2f, tracked leader until 5f out, chased leading paor, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd 5f out, led 3f out, ridden over 1f out, soon headed, no extra and lost 2nd inside final furlong, just held on for 3rd
held up in rear, headway over 3f out, weakened inside final 2f
steadied start, took keen hold in last pair, headway on outside over 3f out, ridden and chased leaders 2f out, stayed on to 2nd inside final furlong, kept on one pace
disputed lead 2f, tracked leading trio, challenged 3f lout, every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led after 2f, headed 3f out, weakened 2f out
There have been several big-price winners in the eight renewals of this so backers beware. Golan Way ran in the King George on Boxing Day and has a Listed chase victory to his credit so running here from a mark of 70 should see a big performance. Natural High ran at Cheltenham but didn't go so well on his return to the Flat at Newbury while Shesha Bear, who won three times over 1m4f at Epsom last summer, ran a shocker on her return to action there last month. May Contain Nuts scored over 2m1f at Pontefract in September though that was a poor contest so it's the two recent all-weather winners AL KHAWANEEJ and Rasheed who can fight this out with preference just for the former who has looked a very progressive stayer in his last two starts.
Al Khawaneej 5-1 (9-3) Held up, headway over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, led inside final furlong, readily, won at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Apr beating Pittodrie Star (9-6) by 1l, 8 ran.
Natural High (IRE) 15-2 (9-10) Close up, ridden 3f out, plugged on same pace, 5th of 11, 15l behind Gilded Age (8-10) at Newbury 2m hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Apr.
Saborido (USA) 6-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, effort over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 6, 17l behind Salontyre (8-6) at Bath 2m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Rasheed 5-1 (8-11) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway over 4f out, never nearer, 5th of 13, 14l behind Thimaar (9-3) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Apr.
Shesha Bear 11-1 (8-7) Always towards rear, tailed off from over 2f out, 9th of 10, well behind Aiken (9-3) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Apr.
Pascha Bere (FR) (8-6) 3rd of 17, 1 3/4l behind Pterodactyl (8-8) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f stk in Sep '07.
May Contain Nuts 25-1 (9-0) Chased leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 17l behind Spice Fair (10-1) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Golan Way 9-2 (8-12) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, driven over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 5th of 8, 6l behind Robert The Brave (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Nov '07.
Twice Bitten 5-4fav (9-1) Refused to settle, tracked leader until led over 7f out, headed 3f out, soon pushed along, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 7l behind Astromagick (8-11) at Yarmouth 2m hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Sep.
