held up, headway 7f out, led 3f out, hard ridden, out battled, headed close home
held up mid-division, hampered, lost place after 6f, ridden, headway over 3f out to chase leaders, weakened over 1f out
in rear, headway to chase leaders over 3f out, soon one pace
tracked leaders, switched left 2f out, ridden, kept on gamely to lead close home
led, headed 3f out, weakened 2f out
in touch, veered right after 6f, lost place, never dangerous after
tracked leader, ridden, weakened over 2f out
Nicky Henderson has a fantastic record in bumpers and he can add to his tally here with EIGHTEENFIFTY; Vacario and Viking Affair rate as the main dangers. The selection brings some solid form to the table as he won well on his debut before chasing home the highly-rated According To Dick in a bumper at Cheltenham last time. That form reads really well in the context of this race and he should take the world of beating. Vacario chased home Moscow Catch at Huntingdon when he was unable to defy a penalty for his debut success at Hereford. The form is fairly moderate but he is open to further improvement and the yard are in good form so he has to be considered. Viking Affair was well-backed on his debut but he was ultimately very disappointing and this 4-year-old from the Paul Nicholls yard will need to leave that running behind if he is to win this. Rock of Dubai hails from a shrewd yard and is worth a market check on his racecourse debut, but Eighteenfifty sets a decent standard here and he should prove tough to beat.
Eighteenfifty 3-1fav (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, went second inside final furlong, stayed on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 17, 4 1/2l behind According To Dick (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m nhf (4) gd in Oct.
Vacario (GER) 4-1 (11-7) In touch, chased winner over 2f out, soon ridden, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Moscow Catch (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (5) gf in Oct.
Frenchie Frenchie (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) In touch until 6f out, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind For One Night Only (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f nhf (6) gd in Jun.
Jay Ell The Trier (IRE) Talkin Man gelding out of Killoughey Pride.
Like Minded 2-5fav (10-7) Trckd ldr 11; led aft 2 out; sn clr, won at Charing 2m 4f ptp gf in Feb beating Lillie Lou (11-0) by 10l, 9 ran.
Private Affair 9-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden and dropped out halfway, 9th of 14, 43l behind Last One Standing (10-9) at Southwell 2m nhf (6) gd in Sept.
Quatuor Collonges (FR) Video Rock gelding out of Elegante Collonges.
Viking Affair (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Held up, headway over 6f out, ridden over 3f out, one pace final 2f, 6th of 14, 19l behind Cypress Grove (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f nhf (6) gd in Oct.
Elegant Olive Alflora mare out of Strong Cloth.
Fidelis (IRE) 7-2fav (10-12) Mid-division, ran green, effort 4f out, no impression, 10th of 21, 15l behind Sunsetten (10-12) at Doncaster 1m 5f 4yo nhf (5) gd in Jan.
Rock of Dubai (IRE) Alderbrook gelding out of Nut Eile.
