mid-division, headway after 7th, effort 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
chased clear leader, led after 3 out, ridden and headed next, kept on same pace
led, soon clear, pipped 4 out, soon headed and weakened, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden and every chance 2 out, not fluent last, kept on
mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, headway after 7th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out
held up last, smooth headway 3 out, led 2 out, idled run-in, ridden out
chased leaders, pipped 5th, led and hit 3 out, soon ridden and headed, weakened next
lost touch 6th, pulled up before 3 out
held up behind, hit 5th, headway approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, found little
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
The market will tell us most in this keenly contested event and Princelet is the pick without reference to the betting although Dancer's Serenade and Ship's Hill are likely to have their followers. Princelet will have the services of AP McCoy and while the absence is a worry, the horse had had two outings on the flat during the summer and had adapted to the task well. Dancer's Serenade is an interesting raider from the Ferdy Murphy outfit. He won well at Wetherby and can be expected to be delivered with a late burst here. Ship's Hill won a weak Fakenham novice in style at the beginning of the year. It is a question of whether the handicapper has done his sums correctly. Nawamees took a Wolverhampton claimer in facile fashion on Saturday evening. Glacial Sunset almost pulled off a 33/1 shock at Ascot last week although today's going will be markedly different. Quality chaser, Nycetos attempts to make hay under a much more favourable hurdles mark. Rio De Janeiro finished down the field at Ascot in the Ladbroke and simply has to do better to be in the shake up this afternoon. Zonergem is watched in the market having won three of his seven hurdling starts. A trappy finale in which the market should offer plenty of clues and we make Princelet the tentative selection.
Ship's Hill (IRE) 2-5fav (11-5) Held up in touch, led after 2 out, soon clear, won at Fakenham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Noble Ben (11-5) by 21l, 10 ran.
Rio De Janeiro (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Prominent until weakened 4 out, 13th of 17, 24l behind Jack The Giant (11-0) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gf.
Newman Des Plages (FR) 12-1 (11-0) With leader, hampered after 4 out, soon weakened, 11th of 15, 28l behind Souffleur (10-6) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Princelet (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Held up, ridden and weakened after 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kings Quay (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr, 22 ran.
Hereditary 66-1 (11-7) Behind, headway into mid-division and hit 2 out, never in contention, 7th of 19, 25l behind Mendo (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
At The Money 8-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, ridden after 6th, soon dropped rear, 6th of 8, 32l behind Gabier (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f 4yo hcp hdl (2) sft.
Nycteos (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Tracking leaders when fell at the 10th in race won by Kelrev (10-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs, 11 ran.
Mind How You Go (FR) 17-2 (10-1) Always towards rear, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kings Quay (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Jul, 17 ran.
Magical Legend 11-1 (11-5) Took key hold in mid-division, headway approaching 7th, led before last, headed and hung left flat, no extra, 3rd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Commemoration Day (10-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Jun.
Dancer's Serenade (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to lead last, kept on well under pressure flat, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft beating Hernando's Boy (11-7) by a nk, 8 ran.
Glacial Sunset (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Led, hard pressed from 2 out, stayed on gamely flat, headed final stride, 2nd of 17, shd behind National Trust (11-7) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf.
Zonergem 10-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on from last, 4th of 5, 11l behind Sunday City (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Nawamees (IRE) 5-4fav (11-9) Prominent, ridden and went poor 3rd 3 out, soon no chance, 3rd of 9, 31l behind Count Kristo (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f clm hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Court Ruler 33-1 (10-6) Mid-division, headway 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 13th of 20, well behind Eden Linty (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
