chased leaders, shaken up 4 out, no impression from 2 out, kept on
chased leaders, lost place 2nd, mistake 3rd, soon behind, pulled up after 5th
held up on outside, hit 1st, closed 5th, led 6th, headed next, lost place 9th, soon weakened, fell 3 out
jumped left, led until slow 6th, led 9th, not fluent and headed 3 out, lost 2nd flat
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway from 7th, every chance 4 out, jumped right and beaten 2 out, weakened flat
chased leader until 5th, lost place before 6th, mistake 7th, behind from after 9th, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, some headway when not much room 6th, closed after 9th, stayed on well from last, went 2nd flat, just held
mid-division, blundered 3rd, lost place next, closed 6th, outpaced 8th, well beaten before 4 out
mid-division, closed 3rd, led 7th, headed 9th, led 3 out, 3 lengths clear flat, just held on
Hatcher, a dual course winner, has failed to finish in his last four starts. Prince Escalus had a couple of minor victories earlier this year and was racing in better company when last seen in June. The Widdow Maker was beaten a long way when runner-up at Newbury but is dropping to a winnable mark while GUMBALL's last two runs at Ascot put him in the frame for this. Fergal O'Brien's charge has had wind surgery and hopefully it will have the desired effect. Desque De L'Isle jumped poorly when strongly fancied at Fontwell and only had two to beat here last month when the favourite pulled up.
Prince Escalus (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Chased leader until hit 4 out, chased leading pair, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, no chance when blundered badly 2 out, eased, 5th of 7, 23 1/4l behind Kauto The King (10-2) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Us And Them (IRE) 50-1 (10-6) Behind, not fluent 2nd (water), quickly pulled up, at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Hatcher (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, pushed along and steadily lost ground after 5 out, pulled up in beaten 3rd before 3 out, at Doncaster 2m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
The Widdow Maker 11-2 (10-12) Wore hood to post, soon tracking leader, went left and bumped 1st, led 4th, joined 4 out, soon headed, stayed on same pace from next, no chance with very easy winner, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Paint The Dream (12-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Gumball (FR) 10-3 (11-1) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, pushed along in close 4th 2 out where not fluent, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 8, 14 3/4l behind Thyme White (11-6) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Monsieur Lecoq (FR) 10-1 (10-13) Mid-division on inside, struggling from 6 out, plugged on for distant 3rd, 3rd of 6, 35l behind Amarillo Sky (11-13) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Bun Doran (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led, headed 4 out, pushed along and weakened thereafter, 4th of 6, dist behind Amarillo Sky (11-13) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Peterborough (FR) 40-1 (11-1) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, weakened before 7th, pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Desque De L'Isle (FR) 9-4 (10-13) Raced on outside, chased leader, awkward 3rd, challenged 8th, left in lead next, clear 3 out, eased flat, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Court Royale (10-8) by 17l, 3 ran.
