chased leader, led 2nd, dived and unseated rider 5th
chased leaders on inside, left 3rd at 5th, hit 3 out and stumbled badly, weakened rapidly, tailed off when mistake next, eased
led up in last pair, steady headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd between last 2, driven and stayed on run-in, always held
pulled hard, led until 2nd, chased leader until left in lead 5th, pushed along and headed home turn, weakened quickly soon after
chased leaders, left 2nd at 5th, led home turn, headed before 2 out, chased winner until between last 2, no extra in 3rd
held up in last trio, left in 4th place 5th, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, good headway out wide chasing leaders before 3 out, led before next, ridden and kept on well run-in
STATE CROWN is having a first run on a testing surface but Evan Williams’ four-year-old was just touched off in a Class 2 at Newcastle on his second outing over timber and would only need to run up to that form to make a winning start against older horses. A winner here last year, Bard Of Brittany could be a danger if fully wound-up ahead of his reappearance but San Pedro De Senam has an even longer absence to overcome. None of the others make much appeal on recent form.
Hereia (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 12, 20 1/4l behind Thibault (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
San Pedro De Senam (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Prominent, carried left 1st, ridden before 5th, lost place when brought down 3 out, at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Bard Of Brittany 6-1 (11-6) Mid-division, closer tracking leaders 3rd, went modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Western Rules (12-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Right Hand Of God 50-1 (10-12) Pulled hard, led, ridden and headed before last when hung left, no extra run-in, 5th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Game Socks (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Dec.
State Crown (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and joined 2 out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Son Of Red (10-12) at Newcastle 2m (2) gd in Nov.
Black Abbey (FR) 28-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, raced keenly, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, 9th of 12, 16 1/2l behind Envol De La Cour (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Mr Jack (IRE) 22-1 (11-1) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 6th, soon ridden, well beaten before 3 out, 10th of 13, 36l behind No Getaway (11-12) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
