chased clear leader from 2nd, closed 11th, led before 2 out, shaken up and 2 1/2 lengths ahead when left well clear last, ridden out
chased leader until 2nd, not fluent and in last pair from 4th, jumped slowly 8th, left 3rd 11th, went 2nd and ridden before not being fluent 2 out, 2 1/2 lengths down when fell last
set fast pace and clear from 2nd until 11th, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, left 3rd last
chased leaders, not fluent 10th, blundered badly and unseated rider next
in rear, not fluent 6th, outpaced 3 out, well beaten before 2 out, left 2nd last
There may only be five runners in this but all have a chance of sorts. Ptit Zig and Camping Ground are the least exposed and the former has already won three times at this level. He has come up against Vautour in two of his last three runs and not been disgraced so will probably start favourite though AL FEROF (NAP), third in last year's King George, goes well fresh and will make a bold bid. He gave weight and a beating to last year's winner Wishfull Thinking on his reappearance at Ascot last season and handles this ground well enough. Pepite Rose is a tough mare and arrives off the back of a wide-margin victory but she may not be quite good enough on this occasion.
Al Ferof (FR) 7-2fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, steady headway 9th, tracking leaders 13th, pushed along after 4 out, driven into 3rd after 2 out, went 2nd final 100 yards and kept on, always held, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Menorah (11-10) at Sandown 2m 6f lst (1) gd in Apr.
Ptit Zig (FR) 7-2fav (11-11) Tracked winner until 2nd, 2nd again 4 out, pushed along after 3 out, driven and tried to challenge before the last, held run-in, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Vautour (11-6) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov.
Wishfull Thinking 7-1 (11-10) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders before 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied after next, went 2nd and every chance last, kept on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Sound Investment (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Camping Ground (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along and outpaced before 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in, not quite pace to challenge, 4th of 23, 2l behind Ebony Express (10-7) at Sandown 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Pepite Rose (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, closed 9th, led 3 out, clear after next, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Ballygarvey (11-0) by 10l, 9 ran.
