in touch, driven to chase leaders over 3f out, never on terms, weakened over 1f out
held up behind, headway over 3f out, led inside final 2f, ridden and hard pressed inside final furlong, headed narrowly near finish
pressed leader, led over 3f out, ridden and headed inside final 2f, no impression final furlong
slowly into stride, held up behind, headway when not clear run and switched outside over 2f out, ridden 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never reached leaders
mid-division, not much room over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, never near leaders
led, driven and headed over 3f out, soon behind
held up behind, headway over 2f out, soon chased leaders, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, kept on, led narrowly near finish
in touch on outside, driven over 4f out, lost place and weakened over 2f out
mid-division on inside, lost place and ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division on outside, pushed along halfway, lost place 5f out, soon behind, tailed off
tracked leaders, challenged over 2f out, ridden and one pace over 1f out, no impression in 3rd inside final furlong
mid-divison, switched outside 4f out, driven and headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, never on terms, weakened 1f out
tracked leaders on inside, driven over 3f out, lost place 2f out, soon weakened
Ardlui won last year's renewal and is not easily overlooked racing off the same mark today. Mubaraza also has a shout on his third in the Northumberland Plate in June while Esteaming should get involved if lasting home after winning over 1m2f at Newcastle recently. Sizzler is another stepping up in trip having ended last season with a double over 1m6f and beat Chocala on one of those occasions. Be Perfect and Hunting Ground won over 2m1f at Wolverhampton earlier this year but both were well beaten in a conditions race at Lingfield on Good Friday. Prolific hurdler BAYAN has just the one previous win on the Flat but ran a big race in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last month. Gordon Elliott's charge may well be up to landing this off his current mark.
Ardlui (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Tracked leading pair, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 12, 26l behind Harris Tweed (9-7) at Goodwood 1m 6f hcp (2) gs in Jul.
Mubaraza (IRE) 15-2fav (9-0) Mid-division, driven and headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, chased leader briefly inside final furlong, kept on same pace, just held on for 3rd, 3rd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Tominator (9-10) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) gs in Jun.
Sizzler 10-1 (8-13) Made all, ridden and hung right from over 2f out, kept on well, won at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) hvy in Oct beating Chocala (8-7) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Saptapadi (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Settled towards rear, ridden and some headway early straight, 8th 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to go 4th near line, 4th of 18, 3 1/2l behind Sir Ector (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp sft in Nov.
Esteaming 11-4 (9-7) Tracked leaders in chasing group, smooth headway well over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, eased near finish, won at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft beating Ebony Express (9-6) by 2l, 6 ran.
Be Perfect (USA) 22-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, well beaten over 2f out, 11th of 12, 30l behind Jonny Delta (8-5) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Angel Gabrial (IRE) 5-1fav (9-3) Held up in touch, effort over 3f out, every chance from over 1f out until one pace final 75 yards, 4th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Jonny Delta (8-5) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Moidore 11-2 (9-4) Held up in touch, not much room and lost place over 5f out, well beaten over 2f out, last of 12, 32l behind Jonny Delta (8-5) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Huff And Puff 9-2 (9-11) Tracked leader over 10f out, challenged 2f out, soon narrow lead but pressed, stayed on most gamely to assert final strides, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct '12 beating Ukrainian (9-1) by hd, 10 ran.
Herostatus 66-1 (8-6) Always towards rear, 8th of 14, 10l behind Elidor (8-12) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gs.
Chocala (IRE) 9-4fav (8-7) Soon tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, kept on and held well inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Sizzler (8-13) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) hvy in Oct.
Bayan (IRE) 6-1 (8-4) Mid-division, no impression early straight and 9th 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong to go 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 18, 3l behind Sir Ector (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp sft in Nov.
Hunting Ground (USA) 5-1 (9-1) Mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 12th of 14, 25l behind Litigant (9-5) at Lingfield 2m cnd stks (4yo+) (2) pol.
Twelve Strings (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Always in rear, ridden over 3f out, never a factor, last of 9, 15l behind Pass Muster (9-1) at Musselburgh 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gf.