held up in touch, ridden before 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead last, kept on and driven out towards finish
tracked leaders in 3rd, lost place in rear before 6 out, kept on before 2 out, one pace
in rear and in touch, pushed along before 3 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, ridden before and hit 3 out, weakened before last
tracked leader, led before 6th, headed last, kept on and held towards finish
held up in touch, every chance 3 out and not fluent, one pace before last
led until before 6th, weakened before 3 out
DUKE OF NAVAN won a Listed handicap at Ayr in good style last month and Nicky Richards' charge looks the one to side with in this. Both Dunraven Storm and My Brother Sylvest got no further than the first in that Ayr race though the latter has claims on his earlier second at Sandown. Claret Cloak made the frame at Ascot in November and was having his first start since when well beaten at Aintree last time behind fourth-placed Bellenos, who should go well again.
Claret Cloak (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, some headway when stumbled just after 3 out, no impression after, 7th and no extra before last, 8th of 17, 13l behind Surf And Turf (10-5) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Dunraven Storm (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, fell 1st, in a race won by Duke Of Navan (11-3) at Ayr 2m lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Duke Of Navan (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Held up in touch, badly hampered 1st, went 2nd at the 6th, led 5 out, soon headed, led again 3 out, clear before last, won at Ayr 2m lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr beating Yorkist (11-3) by 6l, 7 ran.
Parsnip Pete 12-1 (11-3) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, brief effort 4 out, no impression, soon weakened, 11th of 17, 37l behind Surf And Turf (10-5) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
My Brother Sylvest 6-1 (11-1) Led, fell 1st, in a race won by Duke Of Navan (11-3) at Ayr 2m lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Bellenos (FR) 14-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, closed 7th, led 4 out, headed before last, one pace flat, 4th of 17, 8l behind Surf And Turf (10-5) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
De Faoithesdream (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Led until 3 out, no extra next, weakening when lost 3rd last, 5th of 7, 22l behind Albert Bridge (11-2) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
