held up in touch until fell 4 out
held up towards rear, pushed along and outpaced 3 out, stayed on and switched left before last, stayed on flat and closed on 3rd close home
chased clear leader, closed after 4 out, led on bit approaching 2 out, driven out from last
not always fluent, towards rear until badly hampered and unseated rider 4 out
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, chased winner from 2 out, until before last, 3rd and one pace flat
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened between last 2
held up in 5th, rear and struggling 4 out, tailed off
always behind, ridden and struggling before 3 out, tailed off
led and soon clear, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened soon after
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway on outside and hit 3 out, weakened soon after
held up in rear, headway before 2 out, stayed on to 2nd before last, no impression on winner
This looks a competitive renewal of the Gerry Feilden with plenty of the 12 runners having claims including Donald McCain's Alegralil, who heads the weights but has harshly been raised 18lb for his win at Wetherby last month and looks best watched. Alan King's The Betchworth Kid comes here fit from the flat but has plenty of weight to carry, while Rebel Dancer has gone up 7lb despite looking beaten when falling at Bangor last time. The reappearing Stormy Weather, from Howard Johnson's yard, and Emma Lavelle's Ascot winner Tocca Ferro are others worthy of a mention but preference is for ADVISOR. Formerly with Michael Bell but now trained by Paul Nicholls, the four-year-old has his ideal conditions and looks reasonably well treated off a mark of 133 for his first start in a handicap.
Alegralil 7-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, hit 5th, led last, driven flat, held on, won at Wetherby 2m mrs lst hdl (1) gd in Oct beating Issaquah (10-12) by nk, 9 ran.
The Betchworth Kid 16-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, ridden and struggling when mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Berties Dream (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar, 19 ran.
Tocca Ferro (FR) 5-2fav (10-2) Tracked leaders, hampered 1st, travelling strongly approaching 2 out, led last, driven clear, idled close home, just held on, won at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct beating Hibiki (10-0) by hd, 11 ran.
Advisor (FR) 15-8fav (11-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along after 4 out, weakened approaching next, last of 7, well behind Hunterview (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gd in Apr.
Olofi (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway before 3 out, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, stayed on same pace from last, 5th of 17, 8l behind Menorah (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs.
Ciceron (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Raced in rear, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened quickly after 3 out, 10th of 11, well behind Tocca Ferro (10-2) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Dr Livingstone (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) In rear, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on one pace, 5th of 13, 19l behind Aegean Dawn (9-9) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs.
Forty Thirty (IRE) 40-1 (10-4) In rear when fell 4th, in a race won by Tocca Ferro (10-2) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct, 11 ran.
Praxiteles (IRE) 2-5fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led and jumped left 2 out, just over 3 lenghts ahead when mistake and left clear last, won at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun beating Apache Dawn (10-12) by 10l, 6 ran.
Stormy Weather (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, switched right after next, stayed on last, never nearer, 5th of 24, 14l behind Sanctuaire (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Kauto Relko (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear and keen, ridden and kept on, one pace from 2 out, no impression, 5th of 10, 22l behind Rio Gael (11-4) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Rebel Dancer (FR) 5-2fav (10-9) Held up in rear, headway when not fluent 3 out, led approaching next, joined when fell last, in a race won by Nearby (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
