led, ridden and headed 2 out, beaten 3rd when not fluent last, no extra
tracked leader, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, ridden to challenge 2 out, dived at last, held flat, kept on
held up in last, pushed along after 3 out, went 4th before 2 out, soon weakened
held up in 4th, jumped left 3rd, closed after 3 out, led going best 2 out, went left last, ridden out
Having saddled four of the last five winners of this Grade 1, Nicky Henderson will be hopeful of a good run from O O SEVEN (NAP) who has already won at Huntingdon and over this course and distance this season. He trounced subsequent winner Cyrius Moriviere on his reappearance and gave weight and a beating to another subsequent scorer on the latter occasion so his form is very solid and he's a 2m specialist whereas the likely hot favourite, Yorkhill, has only run once over this trip and is regarded as more of a staying type. Welsh Shadow easily won a Listed race at Haydock but this looks a bit tougher and Aintree scorer Agrapart also needs to take a further step forward.
Agrapart (FR) 11-4 (10-12) Took keen hold, made all, clear 6th, unchallenged, won at Aintree 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec beating Braavos (10-12) by 20l, 6 ran.
Cyrius Moriviere (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Prominent, led after 5th, jumped left 2 out, driven flat, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Dec beating Waterlord (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
O O Seven (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Tracked leading pair, shaken up to lead 2 out, clear approaching last, kept on run-in, won at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Dec beating Premier Bond (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Welsh Shadow (IRE) Evensfav (11-0) Keen early in touch in 4th, smooth headway to join leader 2 out, led last, shaken up flat, readily, won at Haydock 2m lst (1) sft in Nov beating Viens Chercher (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Yorkhill (IRE) 8-15fav (11-12) Soon tracked leaders, closer in 2nd halfway, 3rd after 4 out, improved into 2nd after 2 out, led before last, soon asserted, jumped left last, pushed out run-in and kept on strongly, won at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn hvy in Dec beating Road To Respect (11-8) by 8 1/2l, 16 ran.