held up in rear, headway when not fluent 8th, hung right after 3 out, led last, driven out
held up, headway 5th, went 2nd 7th, not fluent 2 out, weakened last
held up, headway approaching 3 out, not much room and switched left when hit 2 out, weakened approaching last
led until after 1st, remained prominent, hit 4th, ridden after 8th, soon weakened
led after 1st, hung left approaching 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, stayed on
pulled hard, prominent, saddle slipped 2nd, pulled up before 3rd
raced keenly, soon prominent, chased leader after 2nd until 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
KING'S ALCHEMIST could strike gold for backers here, but can expect strong challenges from Horseford Hill and Prince of Gdansk. Mark Usher's charge was a ready winner of this trip when stepped up last time out at Plumpton, but despite that victory by a dozen lengths in similar conditions, he's still five pounds better off here than Horseford Hill, for whom Felix de Giles claims three pounds. When he won for Nicky Henderson last month, it completed the yard's first century of winners in a season, and was the gelding's first success in nearly two years. He may be a little too high though, despite the claim. In the three previous runnings of the race, the winners carried a maximum of 11 stones. Prince of Gdansk's best efforts have come over slightly shorter, but he seems a nice sort and should have a race at this level within him after trying to win bigger prizes. A competitive contest, with our preference being for King's Alchemist.
Horseford Hill 11-10fav (10-11) In touch and keen, joined leaders 2 out, driven to lead close home, won at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Russian Epic (11-0) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
King's Alchemist 3-1 (10-7) Tracked leading pair to 5th, stayed in 4th, left close 2nd 9th, led after 3 out, ridden clear before next, won at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Mac Halen (10-13) by 12l, 5 ran.
Prince of Gdansk (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, jumped slowly 5th, pushed along for 7th, left behind well before 2 out, 5th of 7, 34l behind Bensalem (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Spiritwind (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Prominent, chased winner from 7th, ridden soon after, weakened, 3rd of 9, 17l behind Master Wells (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f nov sell hdl (5) gf in Mar.
Dawn At Sea 22-1 (9-9) Held up, mistake 5th, ridden next, some progress, outpaced 3 out, plugged on moderately, 5th of 12, 30l behind Prairie Spirit (11-1) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Mar.
Moonlight (GER) 28-1 (8-4) Mid-division, behind final 3f, 8th of 10, 22l behind Zalkani (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f clm stks (5) pol in Jun '06 (flat).
Simplyirresistible (IRE) 250-1 (10-2) Hampered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Come Out Firing (10-13) at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gf, 8 ran.
