slight lead and hit 1st, headed before 3rd, chased leader until 4 out, chased leaders, mistake 2nd, weakened quickly before 2 out, soon behind and eased, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 4 out
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4th, went 2nd 4 out, weakened tamely before next, eased and pulled up between last two
towards rear, pushed along after 2nd, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, went left last, stayed on again run-in, went modest 4th last strides
chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out, weakened between last two
raced keenly, held up in rear, good headway on inside chasing before 2 out, weakened between last two, lost modest 4th final strides
mid-division, smooth headway tracking leaders 4th, led before 2 out, ridden stayed on strongly and came clear run-in
held up off the pace towards rear, last when mistake 3 out, steady headway out wide approaching 2 out, went 2nd between last two, stayed on same and no chance with winner run-in
held up towards rear, some headway before 2 out, weakened soon after
held up towards rear, headway out wide chasing leaders before 2 out, 3rd and no impression between last two
led until 1st, led before 3rd, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened quickly
NonRunner
Benson seeks back-to-back victories in this and was a promising fifth over a longer trip on his return to action. Navajo Pass surprised Buveur D’Air in a Grade 2 at the start of the year but hasn’t raced since tailed off in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton in February. Metier had his bubble burst in the Supreme Novices’ in March but he remains a nice prospect. Six four-year-olds have won this since the turn of the century and the younger generation are well represented again. Hudson De Grugy is 3-4 around here but his only defeat came at the hands of ELHAM VALLEY on this card 12 months ago and Fergal O’Brien’s charge, who later finished third in the Boodles and will be all the better for a pipe-opener at Ascot, is 10lb better off now. Samarrive was carrying a big weight when an unplaced favourite at Cheltenham and is also interesting.
Navajo Pass 6-1 (11-8) Soon led, not fluent 4th, headed after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 6, dist behind Goshen (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) hvy in Feb.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Led 1st, not fluent 3rd, headed 4th, led after 12th, headed next, ridden from 15th, weakened after 4 out, 11th of 12, 18 1/2l behind Al Boum Photo (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
Metier (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten from next, eased before last, 7th of 8, 35 3/4l behind Appreciate It (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Benson 14-1 (11-12) Chased leading pair, pushed along between last two, weakened and lost two places run-in, 5th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Gowel Road (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Hudson De Grugy (FR) 11-4 (11-12) Held up in 5th, headway after 3 out, pushed along to close 3 out, challenging when not fluent last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Will Sting (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Miss Heritage (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Led until 3 out, soon lost 2nd and weakened before next, 6th of 14, 14 3/4l behind Soaring Glory (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
Samarrive (FR) 5-2fav (11-11) Held up in touch behind leaders, shaken up after 2 out, held last, stayed on same pace, 7th of 12, 5 1/2l behind Samba Dancer (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Zambezi Fix (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Held up, closer over 4 out, headway going well under 4 out, fell 3 out, at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Elham Valley (FR) 16-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, driven along before 2 out, no headway, 7th of 14, 20 3/4l behind Soaring Glory (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
Thibault 9-1 (10-2) In rear, effort and some headway into 4th before 2 out, ridden and went 2nd run-in, no match for winner, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Tommy's Oscar (11-1) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Heure De Gloire (FR) 10-3 (11-4) Disputed lead early, went into clear lead before 4th, mistake 4 out, pushed along and headed before 2 out, kept on well run-in but always held, 2nd of 5, 4 1/4l behind Bellatrixsa (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m fll (4) gs in Mar.
Natural History 6-4fav (11-7) Keen early, held up, ridden 4 out, no impression, pulled up before 2 out, at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
