tracked winner, challenged over 4f out until over 3f out, weakened 2f out
close up, ridden 3f out, plugged on same pace
held up, headway to track leaders over 4f out, pressed winner from over 3f out, unable to quicken near finish
held up, weakened 3f out
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
close up, ridden and headway over 2f out, pressed leading pair entering final furlong, not quicken near finish
in rear, headway 2f out, soon hung right, plugged on same pace, finished under stand side rail
mid-division, weakened 3f out
in touch, closed on leaders 10f out, ridden 3f out, plugged on
made all, ridden and pressed from over 3f out, stayed on gtamely
slowly away, in rear, headway to go in touch over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
Nonrunner
Rasheed ran poorly when attempting a hat-trick at Kempton but reverts to the turf on a 7lb lower mark and has to be respected. Spirit Of Adjisa was in brilliant form over hurdles at this time last year and landed the Champion Novices' at Punchestown. He's hardly picked his feet up in three subsequent starts but has some decent form on the level. Natural High had some useful form for Dermot Weld and is no forlorn hope despite a poor run at Cheltenham but Blazing Field hasn't confirmed he stays the trip, though he'll enjoy the soft going. HIDDEN VALLEY was racing beyond 1m4f when landing a 2m1f Bath handicap in October. He's raced on all kinds of going so looks well enough weighted to make a winning start to the campaign.
Spirit of Adjisa (IRE) 6-1fav (9-5) Took keen hold, chased leader until over 3f out, soon ridden and weakened over 2f out, 18th of 19, 42l behind Hollins (8-10) at Goodwood 2m 5f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Jul.
Natural High (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Prominent, pushed along over 5f out, soon weakened, behind and eased from before straight, completely tailed off, last of 14, well behind Much Acclaimed (9-3) at Curragh 1m 6f hcp sft in Sep.
First Avenue 20-1 (8-8) Behind, headway over 2f out, soon no impression, 7th of 13, 16l behind Thimaar (9-3) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
L Frank Baum (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) In touch, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 11, well behind All My Heart (9-3) at Haydock 2m hcp 0-85 (4) hvy in Oct.
Roberto Pegasus (USA) 8-1 (9-11) With leader, led over 8f out, pushed along over 4f out, headed over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 5l behind Blazing Field (8-9) at Bath 1m 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Oct.
Blazing Field 8-1 (8-9) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Bath 1m 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Oct beating Pittodrie Star (9-11) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
O Ma Lad (IRE) 8-1 (8-2) Steadied start always in rear, outpaced over 4f out, last of 6, 16l behind Viking Storm (8-5) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Mar.
Hidden Valley 8-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Bath 2m 1f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct beating Schism (9-6) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Henry San (IRE) 9-4 (9-10) Tracked leading pair on inside, effort to chase winner 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, strong challenge close home, just held, 2nd of 7, hd behind El Libertador (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Gilded Age 8-1 (9-6) Led, strongly challenged from over 3f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind The Absent Mare (8-10) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
The Absent Mare 11-8fav (8-10) Settled in rear but in touch, headway to chase leaders over 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar beating Russian George (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Praxiteles (IRE) 13-2 (10-0) Took keen hold, held up in touch, weakened over 3f out, tailed off, last of 9, 50l behind Rockfella (9-4) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Aug.
Rasheed 5-1 (8-11) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway over 4f out, never nearer, 5th of 13, 14l behind Thimaar (9-3) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Gay Sloane (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Tracked leader for 2f, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Stand Guard (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f sell stks (6) pol.
