held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden in close 3rd over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on and in command towards finish
led, clear after 2f until 4f out, ridden and headed 2f out, lost 2nd inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, closer in 4th place 7f out, ridden and switched left to inside over 2f out, 2nd inside final 2f, led entering furlong, soon ridden and headed, chased winner and every chance until no extra near finish
always behind, never a factor, tailed off
steadied start, took keen hold, held up in rear, steady headway on outside 5f out, pushed along chasing leaders over 3f out, ridden 2f out, 4th and one pace over 1f out
chased leader over 7f, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
held up off the pace in mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, soon ridden and outpaced, no chance after
tracked leaders, tracked clear leader 9f out, closed 4f out, pushed along over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong
Ryan The Giant was winning for the first time in 25 attempts when successful over track and trip recently beating Jan Smuts a length. He’s only 2lb higher but ROYAL FLAG was also winning for the first time when landing a higher grade race over course and distance last time with Jan Smuts well beaten. The runner-up has subsequently won so the form looks solid enough and Brian Ellison’s charge is preferred to Yasir. The latter scored over today’s trip at Wolverhampton in January while Stoneham is 4lb higher than when completing a hat-trick last summer and has been hurdling without success since.
Stoneham 40-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, stayed on well after last, nearest finish, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind El Bandit (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Thorntoun Care 3-1 (9-12) Led and soon clear, headed 3f out, soon ridden and weakened, last of 6, dist behind Life Knowledge (8-13) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Royal Flag 9-2 (9-1) Tracked leader, led over 5f out, ridden over 1f out, soon pressed, held on towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (5) pol in Jan beating Lac Leman (10-0) by nk, 5 ran.
Yasir (USA) 14-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, never able to challenge, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Vosne Romanee (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Jan Smuts (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, stayed on, went 2nd inside final furlong, unable to reach winner, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Ryan The Giant (8-7) at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Cosmic Tigress 7-1 (9-13) Held up, in mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on into moderate 2nd post, no chance with very easy winner, 2nd of 13, 12l behind Alfredo (10-0) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Bilko's Back (IRE) 200-1 (9-2) Took keen hold, led early, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 11, dist behind Lugano (9-2) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
He's Magic 20-1 (8-10) Led, headed 10f out, led over 4f out until over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 32l behind Ryan The Giant (8-7) at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Ryan The Giant 85-40 (8-7) Handy 2f, in touch in mid-division, closed from over 4f out to lead over 2f out, ridden and stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Feb beating Jan Smuts (9-10) by 1l, 9 ran.
