led, strongly pressed before 4 out, pushed along 3 out, ridden and still led narrowly after 2 out, headed before last, kept on one pace
towards rear in touch, headway to chase leaders before 4 out, pushed along after 4 out, keeping on one pace when slightly hampered 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well run-in, not reach leaders
mid-division, pressed leaders 4 out, ridden and every chance before 2 out, kept on well but held towards finish
tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, gradually faded
mid-division, mistake 12th and dropped to rear, ridden after 13th, struggling and pulled up after 5 out
prominent throughout, pressed leader before 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, not fluent and jumped right 3 out, weakened 2 out, fell
in rear, in touch, not fluent 7th and 10th, effort and headway into 4th 4 out, pressed leader 3 out, pushed along and led before last, stayed on well, reduced lead run-in but always doing enough
STRICTLYADANCER arrives in the best form having won a couple of amateur races at Cheltenham. He looks the one to beat despite a further rise in the weights and is preferred to stablemate Potters Corner. The latter posted a better effort at Cheltenham last week and drops back down in class while Ramses De Teillee ran well for a long way over hurdles at Newton Abbot on his reappearance and will be sharper here. Empire Steel showed progress over fences last year and reverts to handicapping with a chance while Fidux may prove best of the rest off his current mark.
Ramses De Teillee (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 8th and increased pace, ridden and headed 3 out, soon left behind by front pair, plugged on for distant third, 3rd of 8, 30 1/2l behind Ballymillsy (10-6) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Fidux (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Towards rear, headway before 5 out, chased leaders 4 out, ridden 3 out, not pace to challenge, 6th of 13, 14 1/4l behind Chirico Vallis (10-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Empire Steel (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 8th, closed 11th, struggling 13th, pulled up before 15th, at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Mr Muldoon (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Tracked leader until ridden 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 9, 35l behind Senior Citizen (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Potters Corner (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Close up when slow 1st, led after 1st, headed 3rd, soon disputing lead again, led 7th, not fluent 4 out, stumbled on bend and headed 2 out, soon ridden, weakened after last, 6th of 13, 14 1/4l behind Back On The Lash (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Joke Dancer 40-1 (10-8) Close up, no impression 3 out, jumped right 2 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 10, 18 1/2l behind Good Boy Bobby (10-10) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Oct.
Strictlyadancer (IRE) 9-4fav (10-1) Held up towards rear, closer in mid-division at 8th, chased leaders 15th, led 3 out, 2 lengths ahead last, stayed on well run-in, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Mindsmadeup (11-1) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
