chased leader until approaching the last where left 2nd, every chance early run-in, weakened into 3rd final 200 yards
never that fluent, chased leaders on inside, mistakes 1st and next, mistake 3 out, left in well held 4th when mistake and hampered last, weakened run-in
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
raced keenly tracking leaders, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear on outside, headway on wide outside before the last, never nearer
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3 out, ridden between last 2, weakened soon after, plugged on into 4th run-n
held up towards rear, bit closer in mid-division on inside before 3 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out
raced wide and keen in mid-division, weakened 5th, behind next, tailed off 4 out
led, ridden and clear between last 2, 3 lengths ahead going strongly when fell last
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, never on terms, fell last
held up in rear, steady headway on inside after 3 out, chased leaders next, 3 lengths 2nd when left in lead and hampered last, strongly pressed early run-in, driven clear
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders when not fluent 2 out, left in 3rd at the last, not much room between horses early run-in, squeezed through and went 2nd final 200 yards, no chance with winner
Nicky Henderson won this in 2017 with Brave Eagle but both of his runners this year and making belated reappearances. Jockey bookings suggest Colonial Dreams is preferred to Soul Emotion but the vote goes to another returnee in ONE FOR ROSIE. The grey goes well fresh and was last season dead-heating for third in a Grade 1 at Aintree having just come up short in a Grade 3 handicap at Sandown earlier. Sevarano is 2-2 this season so can’t be ignored making his handicap debut but Dorking Boy has a lot more to do then when successful at Taunton. Now Look At Me has been beaten off lower marks the last twice but Point Of Principle is no forlorn hope as he’s another for whom a recent absence shouldn’t be a problem. Coeur de Lion won the Chester Cup in May but was only fifth at Aintree back over timber.
Soul Emotion (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division on inside, weakened 3 out, 7th of 16, 28l behind The Cashel Man (10-6) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
One For Rosie 5-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, pushed along and progress on inside 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on one pace flat, 3rd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Reserve Tank (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Point Of Principle (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, driven into close 2nd before 3 out, upsides when not fluent next, ridden to lead narrowly between last 2, kept on until headed and no extra inside final 100 yards, 2nd of 21, 1 3/4l behind Three Musketeers (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Colonial Dreams (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division on outside, tracked leaders 5th, led 2 out, ridden and headed narrowly last, stayed on gamely to regain lead towards finish, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Wait For Me (11-5) by 1l, 14 ran.
Coeur de Lion 11-2 (11-6) Led 1st, headed after 2nd, tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace last, 5th of 8, 9 1/2l behind Notre Pari (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Sevarano (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Soon tracking leaders on inside, left in 2nd place 2 out, shaken up to lead before last, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m 5f (3) gs in Nov beating It Sure Is (10-12) by 2l, 11 ran.
Hear No Evil (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Prominent on inside, lost place after 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened last, last of 10, 19l behind Golan Fortune (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Limited Reserve (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Held up, niggled along and struggling from 3 out, went poor 3rd last, 3rd of 5, 25 1/4l behind Burrows Park (11-7) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Howling Milan (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out until before next, chased leaders, plugged on run-in, 4th of 16, 18l behind The Cashel Man (10-6) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Now Look At Me (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Raced wide, chased leaders, close 2nd 2 out, led narrowly last, narrowly headed run-in, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Paseo (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Dorking Boy 9-2 (11-12) won at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Bard Of Brittany (10-4) by 2 1/4l, 16 ran.
The Wolf (FR) 7-4fav (11-3) Raced wide tracked leaders, pushed along by omitted 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 6, 29l behind Chti Balko (11-10) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
