in rear, ridden approaching 3 out, headway to go 3rd approaching 2 out, kept on, no impression
held up towards rear and keen, ridden and kept on, one pace from 2 out, no impression
in touch and keen, in 5th and held when hit last, kept on to go 4th flat, no impression
in touch and keen, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace from last, no impression
chased leaders, reminders approaching 4 out, chased winner and hung left approaching and blundered 3 out, weakened after next
made all, ridden after 3 out, joined 2 out, kept on well from last
held up towards rear and keen, hit 2nd, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, weakened from 3 out
held up towards rear, hit 2nd, reminders after 4 out, weakened from next
chased winner until weakened quickly approaching 3 out, pulled up before next
KAUTO RELKO gets the nod in an open heat. Not with Rachel Hobbs for long, the selection ran a blinder at Aintree on his UK debut when third to Nearby. A chaser in the making, this half-brother to Kauto Star is expected to make an impact off this mark of 125. Rubipresent ran well on his comeback and along with Gifted Leader (well-backed; brought down in the Aintree race contested by Kauto Relko) he is considered. Dr Livingstone has looked regressive on the level, and a bigger threat today might be Laredo Sound now back over hurdles on soft ground. Elsewhere Rio Gael is consistent and along with the chaser Baaher and the in-form Grand Diamond he is far from written off.
Dr Livingstone (IRE) 6-5fav (11-7) In touch on inside, tracked winner 4 out until 2 out, soon driven and not quicken, no impression flat, 4th of 12, 15l behind Hold Fast (11-7) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Kauto Relko (FR) 28-1 (10-12) Held up behind, headway on outside after 4 out, challenged 2 out, 3rd and one pace when not fluent last, no impression with leading pair flat, 3rd of 16, 12l behind Nearby (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Rubipresent (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) In touch on outside, effort to challenge 2 out, every chance last until ridden and not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Get It On (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Gifted Leader (USA) 17-2 (10-5) Held up towards rear when hampered and brought down 4 out, in a race won by Nearby (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct, 16 ran.
Laredo Sound (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Held up in touch, blundered and lost place 4th, outpaced 4 out, never on terms, 6th of 9, 41l behind Font (11-0) at Haydock 2m 4f beg chase (3) gd in May '09.
Rio Gael (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, jumped left 5th, hung left after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, not fluent last, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Black Jack Blues (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gf in Oct.
Baaher (USA) 12-1 (10-7) Held up behind, hampered 9th, chased leading trio 4 out to next, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind Just Smudge (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Oct.
Master Fong (IRE) 28-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, weakened from next, 10th of 16, 26l behind Nearby (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Grand Diamond (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Held up in rear, not fluent 3 out, headway 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on to lead final 150 yards, kept on well, won at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct beating Midnite Blews (10-5) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Singapore Reef (FR) 4-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, pushed along when mistake 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Valento (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Apr.