held up, pushed along and slightly outpaced after 4 out, ridden next, headway approaching last, stayed on to chase winner run-in
led to 4th, chased leader, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, led on bit approaching 2 out, soon clear, eased towards finish
held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, not fluent last, one pace
held up in rear, pushed along approaching 6th, soon struggling
tracked leader, led 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened last
Nicky Henderson can get one over on his northern counterparts with Thames, who is preferred over Corolande and Whispering Moor, who both have improvement to find to get the better of the selection. Therefore a bigger threat may come from Lord Brock, who is holding his form well and will be a tough customer to deal with if he handles the ground. It is worth bearing in mind that he took much the shortest route when he won at Leicester and will find this a much stiffer test. Therefore, Thames looks a far safer option, as he has experience of the track, is impervious to the ground and hails from a yard that are flying at present; enough attributes to make the son of Over The River a confident selection in the finale.
Corlande (IRE) 5-4fav Close up, led 7th, stayed on strongly from 2 out, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hdl (E) sft beating Piraeus by 2l, 7 ran.
Chevet Boy (IRE) 66-1 Held up, mistake 3rd and 4th, soon reminders, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 12, 12l behind Mount Clerigo at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (D) sft in Jan.
Whispering Moor 50-1 Held up, pushed along and outpaced 4 out, ridden approaching next, headway after 2 out, kept on well from last, 4th of 15, 3l behind Le Biassais at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hdl (E) sft.
Miss Cospector 7-2 Prominent, led 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, headed and weakening when hit last, 5th of 8, 12l behind Baron Monty at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (D) hvy in Jan.
Roses Are Wild (IRE) 50-1 In touch, weakened 8th, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Julius Caesar at Newcastle 3m nov hdl (E) sft in Jan.