tracked leader, weakened from 3 out, tailed off
prominent, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, pulled up
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden before last, kept on
in rear, ridden and headway before 2 out, in 3rd and one pace
held up towards rear, effort before 2 out, no impression
led to 7th, pushed along before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led 7th, ridden before 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish
held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, soon challenged, kept on to lead towards finish
Newton Abbot winner The Road Ahead has yet to win over 3m but was only beaten a head over the trip at Taunton in March and has to go on the short-list. Mercers Court finally got his head in front where it matters at Warwick last month and makes more appeal than veterans Quincy Des Pictons and Master Of The Hall but Gone Forever can't be ignored as he probably came up against an improving novice last time at Sedgefield and his stable won this in 2013. ATLANTIC GOLD (NAP) needs to reverse course running in November with Gone Forever and is only 3lb better off. But the better ground is a big factor in his favour and he arrives off a good run in a competitive affair at Cheltenham.
Quincy Des Pictons (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Held up in 6th and off the pace, weakened 8th, 6th of 11, 38l behind Lessons In Milan (11-3) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
Gone Forever 4-7fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Venue (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Mercers Court (IRE) 8-11fav (11-0) Held up in last pair, steady headway approaching 7th, tracked leaders next, mistake and pushed along 3 out, ridden into 2nd before 2 out, led last, driven run-in, in command towards finish, won at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Wings Attract (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Master Of The Hall (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, mistake 8th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on strongly after last, never able to challenge, 4th of 6, 11l behind Favoured Nation (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Touch Back (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up, not fluent 5th, lost place before 8th, weakened 4 out, fell next, in a race won by Rolling Maul (11-12) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
Vandross (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 6th, ridden and lost place after 8th, behind from 3 out, last of 6, 30l behind Saint John Henry (10-11) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Atlantic Gold (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, towards rear 6th, headway and in touch 8th, challenged 3 out, led briefly 2 out, soon ridden, one pace last, 7th of 19, 18l behind Roll On Ruby (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
The Road Ahead 7-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, soon led, kept on well, won at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr beating Vivant Poeme (11-11) by 2l, 8 ran.
