tracked leading pair, not fluent 8th (water), went 2nd approaching when blundered badly and unseated rider 14th
tracked winner, hit 6th, dropped to 3rd when left 2nd 14th, ridden and no impression before 4 out, hit 2 out, no chance with winner
tracked leading trio, not fluent 6th, reminders and struggling after 13th, left modest 3rd next, tired when went right last, weakened into 4th run-in
jumped boldly, made all, clear before 4 out, slight peck next, stayed on strongly unchallenged
in rear, mistake 1st, blundered badly and unseated rider 3rd
held up in 5th, outpaced and struggling when mistake 12th, left modest 4th 14th, hampered by loose horse and went 3rd run-in
Camping Ground got nowhere near Josses Hill at Kempton but the going was too quick that day. He’s likely to do better on today’s easier ground, though is still unproven over a trip this far. Three Faces West shrugged off a poor run at Carlisle to win easily at Haydock but was receiving 18lb when getting the better of JUST A PAR at Exeter in March and tackles his old rival here off level terms. Paul Nicholls’ nine-year-old may be the one to beat if fully wound-up ahead of Drumacoo, who has an even longer absence to overcome, and Coologue, who was pulled up in the Hennessy after winning at Cheltenham. The novice Aqalim was also pulled up last time and is yet to really sparkle over the larger obstacles.
Camping Ground (FR) 11-8 (11-9) Tracked leader, effort 3 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace, last of 2, 8l behind Josses Hill (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f (2) gd in Nov.
Coologue (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Chased leaders on outside, went 2nd 5th, led after 5th until 10th, chased leaders, pushed along and weakened quickly before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Just A Par (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway when slightly hampered 19th, chased leaders 3 out, ridden before last, led run-in, soon drifted left, headed last stride, 2nd of 20, shd behind The Young Master (11-1) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Three Faces West (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Made all, clear before 4 out, kept on strongly, eased run-in, won at Haydock 3m hcp (2) hvy in Nov beating Firebird Flyer (11-12) by 13l, 6 ran.
Drumacoo (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Led until 3rd, remained prominent, led again after 3rd last, headed next, soon lost place, 4th of 6, 11l behind Vyta Du Roc (11-0) at Ascot 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Aqalim 20-1 (11-0) Pushed along, in rear most of way, mistake 3rd, tailed off 11th, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m (2) gs in Nov.