tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened from 4 out
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, blundered last, ridden and hung right run-in, soon headed, kept on towards finish
tracked leaders, pushed along after 5th, soon lost place, tailed off
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened before next
held up in touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out, pulled up
held up towards rear, some headway before 2 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, tailed off from 6th, pulled up
tracked leaders, pushed along after 6th, weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, ridden run-in, soon led, kept on well
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened before last
in rear, outpaced 4 out, headway before 2 out, kept on to take 3rd towards finish
held up mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
always towards rear, tailed off
led, clear before 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened last
in touch, ridden before last, kept on same pace
mid-division, weakened from 4 out
held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out
towards rear, pushed along after 5th, soon lost place, tailed off
tracked leader, weakened from 3 out
These qualifiers are rarely short of interest and the big yards are well represented again, no doubt targeting a few of their charges at the final itself next March. Philip Hobbs' Pateese and Arthurian Legend are near the head of the weights but they are headed by Free To Dream, courtesy of the penalty he received for winning at Market Rasen last week. Western Warhorse only found stablemate Home Run too good over a shorter trip at Cheltenham earlier this month and is the pick of the Pipe duo while Seventh Sign and Twelve Roses have place claims. McCoy's mount Minella For Steak is on a hat-trick, as is Invicta Lake, while Fourovakind was a progressive sort last season. Valid Reason came back to form at Sandown last time but the vote goes to CHIBERTA KING. Winner of the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot this year and fourth in the Cesarewitch, he should be suited by this first try over 3m and has already won here over hurdles on soft ground.
Free To Dream (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, led and hit 3 out, clear next, eased flat, comfortable, won at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl (2) sft beating Al Co (11-12) by 7l, 7 ran.
Pateese (FR) 20-1 (10-5) Led, headed before 5th, pushed along before 3 out, soon went 3rd, went 2nd run-in until no extra close home, 3rd of 6, 6l behind God's Own (10-0) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs.
Arthurian Legend 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, mistake and reminder 8th, went 4th 11th, outpaced before 4 out, 4th of 5, 29l behind Shotgun Paddy (11-4) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (4) sft in Oct.
Amigo (FR) 5-1 (11-12) In rear, mistake 2nd, never going well, behind after 9th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Mart Lane (11-3) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Oct.
Seventh Sign 7-1 (10-3) Tracked leader, pushed along before 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on from last, 4th of 6, 7l behind God's Own (10-0) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs.
Aiteen Thirtythree (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in last pair, struggling 11th, no chance when tired jump 2 out (usual 3 out), soon pulled up, in a race won by Standing Ovation (10-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs, 13 ran.
Fourovakind 3-1fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, switched left before last and not fluent, soon chased winner, kept on, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Billy Dutton (10-11) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Apr.
Twelve Roses 7-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear on outside, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd after 8th, led 2 out, driven and 1 1/2 lengths up last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind More Of That (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Rangitoto (IRE) 6-1fav (10-11) Held up in mid-division, driven and beaten approaching 3 out, 10th of 18, 37l behind Master Of The Sea (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Feb.
Chiberta King 2-1fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, hit 4th, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, soon eased, 5th of 8, 15l behind Westward Point (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Mickie 9-2fav (11-1) Mid-division in touch, outpaced after 3 out, no impression from next, 5th of 13, 13l behind Highland Retreat (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl (2) gs.
Valid Reason 13-2 (11-7) Held up in touch in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, went 3rd last, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Hawkhill (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy.
Red Not Blue (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Behind on outside, pushed along 9th, stayed on into mid-division from 2 out, never nearer, 8th of 17, 17l behind Return Spring (9-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd.
Minella For Steak (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Held up in touch, headway 7th, led 4 out, ridden and pressed last, found extra, ran on gamely, won at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy beating Heronshaw (11-5) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Firebird Flyer (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Led, not fluent 4th or when headed 6th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Pension Plan (11-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy.
Western Warhorse (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Soon led, ridden and headed last, stayed on, no impression on winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 19, 3l behind Home Run (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Kilmurvy (IRE) 3-1fav (11-8) Tracked leaders on inside, took keen hold, lost place before 5th, ridden after 3 out, disputing 8th and one pace when ran out and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Gores Island (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy, 10 ran.
Dawn Twister (GER) 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, lost place after 3 out, closed and went 4th 2 out, went 2nd last, pressed winner 100 yards out, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Gores Island (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy.
Invicta Lake (IRE) 11-4fav (11-3) Held up in last pair, headway to 3rd before 3 out, led before nezt, driven out and in command from last, won at Plumpton 2m 5f amat hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs beating Henryville (11-12) by 3l, 6 ran.
Upham Atom 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along 14th, weakened from 16th, 6th of 9, well behind The Clyda Rover (10-9) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Apr.
Virginia Ash (IRE) 40-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, ridden after 8th, never on terms with leaders, 7th of 17, 26l behind Ballyculla (11-8) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft.
