in 9th place 4f out, closer chasing leaders over 1f out, went 3rd and stayed on inside final furlong, closed on 2nd but no chance with winner
in 7th place 4f out, headway over 2f out, closer in 4th over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon clear and stayed on well (limited comments due to poor visibility)
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 10f out, weakened and behind over 1f out
never closer than mid-division, plugged on in 5th final furlong
in 2nd place 4f out, went 2nd over 1f out and challenging, ridden and every chance until winner went on inside final furlong, just held on for 2nd
in 6th place 4f out, behind and struggling over 1f out
mid-division 4f out, pushed along out wide over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
in 2nd place over 11f out, soon in front, in 2nd again over 10f out, in front again over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon no extra
behind most of way
in lead briefly over 4f out, soon headed, tracked leaders, pushed along on inside 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
Pons Aelius is usually thereabouts without winning while SASHENKA has been in fine form over hurdles. The latter was beaten only a nose at York when last seen on the Flat and gets the vote on that form. Shadowfax makes his handicap debut and the Galileo gelding is preferred to Duty Of Care and Humanitarian as all three step up in trip.
Sashenka (GER) 10-3jfav (11-13) Tracked leader, bumped 1st, lost 2nd before 4th, handy 3rd, 2nd again 3 out, going well 2 out, headed turning in, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Princess T (11-4) at Hereford 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Duty Of Care 6-1 (9-13) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 6th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Vaynor (9-6) at Chelmsford City 1m 5f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Humanitarian (USA) 10-1 (9-0) Stumbled and unseated rider start, at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Wilderness 33-1 (9-12) Prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, tailed off, 9th of 11, dist behind Malakahna (9-8) at Newmarket 2m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Motazzen (IRE) 40-1 (10-2) Dwelt close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 13, 14 1/4l behind Andaleep (10-2) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Soldier In Action (FR) 100-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd 9f out until over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 6, 22 3/4l behind Military Two Step (10-2) at Chelmsford City 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Arabescato 7-1 (10-3) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway out wide under pressure 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 11, 8l behind Vaynor (9-8) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Pons Aelius (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Chased leader, led over 1f out, soon headed, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Mountain Road (9-9) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Coeur Blimey (IRE) 22-1 (8-12) In rear, in touch, pushed along over 5f out, soon struggling, last of 6, 22l behind Prince Imperial (10-2) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Shadowfax 66-1 (9-4) Hampered start, in rear, pushed along over 3f out, never nearer, 6th of 11, 6 1/2l behind Sea Gifted (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Nov.
