chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
in touch, headway 4th, led and not fluent 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led after 2nd, ridden and headed 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
held up, headway after 3 out, ridden to chase winner approaching next, kept on
held up, reminder after 5th, ridden and headway after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
held up, headway approaching 6th, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next
chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon wandered, ran on, driven out
held up, headway 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before next
led, jinked badly left 2nd, soon headed, chased leader until weakened approaching 3 out
Nonrunner
CLASSIC SWAIN stands out here, and heads our shortlist, which is completed by Gold Reef and Royal Rationale. Paul Nicholls' colt justified favouritism last time out when breaking his maiden at the third of asking over hurdles, following a decent career in France on the flat. This does represent a step up in grade for his handicap debut in what's the best race on the card, but he looks to be the improving sort. Connections will certainly hope so, having paid 100 thousand Euro for him in the autumn. Gold Reef is Alan King's only runner on the card and she won well on Boxing Day at Wincanton on handicap debut. Disappointing in two runs since, there looked to be something not right last time out in January and previously the ground was probably too testing. Royale Rationale gives weight away all round and runs consistently at this sort of level; last time we saw him at Aintree last month he was far from disgraced when sixth in a listed race. Phillip Hobbs won this race last year, but French Saulaie has never won off as high a mark as he's on now. It's competitive, but we'll be siding with Classic Swain.
Royal Rationale (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, raced keenly, headway 3 out, one pace last, 6th of 22, 13l behind Sunnyhillboy (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Stellino (GER) 11-2 (11-7) Held up, smooth headway to challenge 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 17l behind Izita Star (10-11) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Apr.
French Saulaie (FR) 9-4fav (10-12) Pulled hard, held up in 5th, headway to track leading pair 9th, driven before 2 out, 3rd and beaten when blundered last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 6, 15l behind Muhtenbar (11-4) at Ascot 2m 1f nov stks (3) gd in Mar.
Silmi 50-1 (10-4) Tracked leader, behind from 4th, 11th of 12, well behind Crack Away Jack (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Mister Benedictine 66-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, led 2 out, ridden when not fluent last, soon headed, no extra, 4th of 15, 7l behind Sangfroid (10-3) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Gold Reef Evensfav (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, one pace, 6th of 9, 11l behind Laureate Des Loges (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Classic Swain (USA) 13-8fav (10-4) Prominent, chased leader 3 out, led after, shaken up approaching 2 out, soon clear, wandered approaching last, easily, won at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Apr beating Southern Exit (10-0) by 19l, 9 ran.
Go Free 33-1 (10-13) Always in the rear, 13th of 14, well behind Warsaw Pact (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Tayarat (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Led, ridden 7th, jumped left next, headed soon after, weakened before 2 out, no chance when hit last, 3rd of 5, 19l behind Prairie Spirit (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) fm in Apr.
Olympian (FR) 11-2 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon one pace and no impression next, 4th of 9, 17l behind Secret Tune (11-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Freddy's Star (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division until unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Alfred's Tower (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Apr, 13 ran.
Swainson (USA) 10-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway 3 out, stayed on to chase winner flat, no chance, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Dantari (10-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
