held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chasing leaders before next, pushed along and one pace between last two, kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, 2nd 3 out, led soon after, joined when mistake 2 out, headed between last two, soon outpaced and no chance with impressive winner
pulled hard, led and soon clear, reduced lead when joined 3 out, soon headed, weakened 2 out, poor 7th and tired when blundered last, tailed off
held up in mid-division, headway on inside chasing leaders 3 out, riddden and not quicken between last two, kept on same pace after
always in rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off when blundered last
mistake 1st, always towards rear, pushed along and struggling after 4 out, not fluent 2 out, never involved
held up in last pair, never a factor, tailed off
tracked leading pair, every chance 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
held up in mid-division, slight stumble 5th, smooth headway approaching 3 out, tracking leaders next, led between last two, quickening clear when edged left briefly before last, pushed out run-in, impressive
chased leader, challenged and every chance 2 out, disputing lead after until ridden headed and outpaced between last two, 3rd and one pace last
chased leaders, jumped slowly 4th, soon lost place, weakened 4 out, well tailed off
mid-division, jumped slowly 2nd, headway on outside approaching 3 out, chasing leaders when wandered and went left 2 out, ridden hung left and weakened between last two
took keen hold, always towards rear and never involved
Cardinal Walter shrugged off a fairly lengthy absence to make a winning start over hurdles at Doncaster. But none of those behind have managed to frank the form since, which is a worry. RISK A FINE pulled too hard and was soon a spent force when fancied on his debut at Warwick and again fought for his head at Exeter last month. But he won that day with plenty in hand and clearly has an engine. If he settles better here, he could take all the beating. Bouvreuil was third in a Sandown handicap on his UK debut and has to be a threat back against novices while Qewy will almost certainly improve on his third in a Grade 2 at Haydock in time. Cloonacool has won three times this season but this looks a big ask conceding weight all round.
Cloonacool (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Raced wide, held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3rd, 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and narrowly headed when left in clear lead at the last, hard ridden run-in, just held on, all out, won at Kempton 2m (3) sft in Dec beating Violet Dancer (11-0) by shd, 11 ran.
Cardinal Walter (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) In touch, went 2nd approaching 3rd, led before last stayed on well, won at Doncaster 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec beating Emperor Commodos (10-9) by 7l, 18 ran.
Risk A Fine (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Took keen hold, made all, clear after 1st, 5 lengths ahead 3 out, unchallenged, eased towards finish, won at Exeter 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Mountain Of Mourne (10-11) by 12l, 11 ran.
Bouvreuil (FR) 9-2 (9-12) Held up off the pace in mid-division, went 3rd before 2 out, ridden and no impression between last 2, hit last, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Rayvin Black (9-10) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft in Jan.
Buster Brown (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Behind, ridden and headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 6th of 13, 5l behind Sabre Rock (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan (flat).
Jay Are (IRE) 80-1 (11-1) Mid-division, weakened 2 out, 10th of 16, 46l behind Simply A Legend (11-1) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Kingdom (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Led, headed halfway, tracked winner, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 7, 46l behind Noble Gift (9-2) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gd in Sep (flat).
Poker School (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Took keen hold in last pair, pushed along and outpaced in 5th before 3 out, not fluent 3 out, went modest 4th before 2 out, 4th of 7, 25l behind One For The Guv'nr (11-4) at Ludlow 2m NH mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Qewy (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway before 3 out, went 3rd before and not fluent 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Aso (11-8) at Haydock 2m nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Royal Vacation (IRE) 4-5fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, joined winner 4f out, ridden and one pace 2f out, no impression over 1f out, rallied briefly inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Ballyhenry (10-12) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Smoky Hill (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) 8th of 12, 37l behind Domiroli (11-2) at Enghien(FR) 2m 2f hdl sft in Sep.
Prairie Town (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Held up in touch, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 6, nk behind Buckenhill (9-8) at Kempton 1m 3f mdn stks (5) pol in Jan (flat).
Winner Massagot (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders in chasing group, headway approaching 3 out where slightly hampered, challenging and every chance when pecked 2 out, one pace in 3rd when blundered last, weakened run-in, 5th of 10, 29l behind Zarib (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Dec.
