just off the pace in 4th, pushed along turning in, weakened after bypassing omitted 2 out
off the pace in 5th, headway chasing leaders home turn, weakened before omitted 2 out
led after 1st, headed bypassing omitted 2 out, weakened soon after
held up towards rear, closer turning in, chasing leaders when not clear run and switched left over 1f out, then switched sharply right, stayed on inside final furlong, lost 2nd post
held up and behind, closer out wide turning in, soon chasing leaders, not clear run and switched left inside final furlong, went 2nd post, well held
raced keenly chasing leaders, went 2nd turning in until bypassing omitted 2 out, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong
held up, good headway chasing leaders before the last, ridden to lead 1f out, stayed on well (both hurdles in home straight omitted due to low sun, 4 hurdles jumped on circuit)
soon off the pace towards rear, tailed off
off the pace and always towards rear, tailed off at the last
led until after 1st, chased leader until turning in, handy 3rd on inside, led again bypassing omitted 2 out, ridden and hung badly right extended run-in, headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
never closer than mid-division on inside
NonRunner
Former champion Buveur D'Air heads the weights in a high-class renewal of this valuable handicap but is having a first run since fourth in last season’s Aintree Hurdle and is in the veteran stage now, though can’t be ignored. Cormier beat Severance at Cheltenham in January and got the better of Faivoir, who is conceding 9lb, off level weights at Uttoxeter last season but METIER looks the one to beat. Harry Fry’s charge, a Grade 1 winner, was always travelling best when well backed at Lingfield in January and that form has a solid look about it. However, he is 7lb higher here and the returning Balko Saint may have more to offer while Autumn Evening was third in an ultra-competitive Grade B handicap at Leopardstown last month.
Buveur D'Air (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders on inside, raced keenly, left challenging 7th, led next, bumped by loose horse 3 out, joined last, soon headed, no extra and lost 2 places inside final 100 yards, 4th of 11, 4 3/4l behind Abacadabras (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Autumn Evening 28-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 7th after 2 out (normal 3 out), headway entering straight, travelled well to lead before last where slight mistake, ridden and headed final 150 yards, soon no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 27, 3 3/4l behind Call Me Lyreen (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Feb.
Metier (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Led approaching 2nd, made rest, 2 lengths ahead when hit last, stayed on strongly run-in, won at Lingfield 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Gowel Road (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Faivoir (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Tracked leader close up, hit 4th, pushed along before 2 out and outpaced by front pair, not fluent 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 4, 14 3/4l behind Goshen (11-10) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) sft in Feb.
Saint D'Oroux (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, mistake 8th, left 2nd 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Feb beating Aurora Thunder (10-9) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Voix Du Reve (FR) 15-2 (11-11) Raced keenly, prominent, led after 2nd, not fluent 4th or 8th, jumped right and mistake 3 out, headed but then left in lead 2 out, mistake and headed last, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Saint D'Oroux (11-10) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Cormier (IRE) 9-2jfav (11-6) Held up towards rear, reached for 3 out, steady headway out wide approaching next, chasing leaders led and edged left before the last, narrowly headed last, driven and stayed on gamely to lead again final 100 yards, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jan beating Severance (10-12) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Balko Saint (FR) 4-1 (10-12) With leaders to 2 out, ridden and faded, 5th of 7, 14 3/4l behind Gallipoli (11-0) at Compiegne 2m 2f lst sft in Oct.
Some Reign (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, clear flat, reaidly, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct beating Gold Des Bois (11-4) by 5 1/2l, 6 ran.
Severance 5-1 (10-12) Wore hood to post, keen in mid-division, good headway on inside chasing leaders turning in, went 2nd before the last, led narrowly last, ridden and stayed on run-in, worn down final 100 yards, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Cormier (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Thereisnodoubt (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, chased winner 4 out, ridden to press winner run in, no extra close home, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind West To The Bridge (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Alqamar 9-2 (11-5) Chased leader, led 4th, headed before next, blundered and unseated rider 6th, at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
