prominent, not fluent 4th, took closer order 3 out, ridden and weakened 2 out
midfield, restrained towards rear 3rd, travelled strongly to chase leaders approaching 2 out, ridden and close up last, stayed on strongly flat but could not match winner
led, headed narrowly 2nd, led 5th, headed 6th, raced away from the rest on far side and led narrowly 2 out, ridden and headed when fell last
keen in rear, pulled into narrow lead 2nd, headed 5th, led 6th, headed and ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
prominent, restrained into midfield 2nd, ridden and one pace from 3 out
held up in rear, still some way off the pace approaching 3 out, rapid headway travelling strongly before 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on strongly flat
in rear, well adrift 5th, tailed off before 3 out
NonRunner
Stable jockey Nico de Boinville rides Known for only the second time and he’ll strip fitter for a third at Ascot. Liam Harrison gave Gortroe Joe a positive ride to score at Sandown and the conditions will suit both the returning Aliandy and Trans Express. The latter, in particular, is well treated on his best form and looked to be on the way back when runner-up at Exeter 11 days ago. Winning pointer A DISTANT PLACE gets his favoured soft ground for the first time under Rules. He was still showing signs of inexperience at Hereford last month and has more scope than the likes of Irish Odyssey.
Irish Odyssey (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, blundered badly 2 out, not recover, 5th of 10, 15l behind The Macon Lugnatic (11-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gd in Mar.
A Distant Place (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Led, jumped left 2nd, hung left on bend soon after, not fluent 3rd, landed awkwardly last, soon edged left, headed final 75 yards, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Benson (11-6) at Hereford 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Gortroe Joe (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Made all, led, 2-length lead when pushed along at the last maintained advantage when ridden run-in, game, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating First Lord De Cuet (11-10) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Aliandy (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Led into start and slowly away, raced keenly in rear, effort before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 37 3/4l behind Any Drama (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Known (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, ridden before 2 out, not fluent last, went 3rd flat, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 11, 7 1/4l behind Fifty Ball (11-6) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Corri Lindo (FR) 28-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, made headway 4 out, ridden after 3 out, soon no extra, 9th of 14, 18 3/4l behind Outonpatrol (11-8) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Unblinking 14-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, never on terms, 12th of 16, 28 1/4l behind Lightly Squeeze (12-5) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Trans Express (IRE) 4-1fav (11-9) Led, ridden approaching 3 out, joined 2 out, headed before last, kept on but could not match winner, 2nd of 13, 3 1/4l behind Mystic Dreamer (11-10) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
