chased leaders, lost place before 7th, mistake 10th and 12th, outpaced after next, rallied from 2 out, not much room and squeezed through before last, went 2nd flat, stayed on, unable to challenge winner
led until 2nd, tracked leaders, went 2nd again 2 out until flat, no extra towards finish
prominent, led 2nd, headed 5th, mistake next, slow and lost place 8th, jumped slowly after, behind when pulled up before 12th
made many mistakes, in rear, headway 11th, weakene flat
prominent, led 5th, jumped right next, 3 1/2 lengths ahead when jumped right last, wandered flat, driven out
held up in rear, headway before 11th, pressing for 2nd flat, 3rd and no impression towards finish, kept on
mid-division on outside, closed before 5th, went 2nd 7th, not fluent 12th, beaten from 2 out, weakened last
mid-division, headway 7th, mistake 12th, outpaced 3 out, well held from 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st or 8th, effort on outside 3 out, no impression and pecked 2 out
GOLDEN WHISKY (NAP) is 2lb lower than when second in this two years ago. Two of his three chase wins have come at Chepstow but he has also won on a right-handed track and his latest second is working out well. Last year’s winner Foxboro hasn't been at his best but will be racing from the same mark with his rider's claim taken into account while Nocte Volatus, beaten a neck when runner-up 12 months ago, found 3m too far last time. Eden Du Houx is back in the right grade and Iconic Muddle returned from more than a year off with an excellent second at Kempton so can’t be ignored.
Eden Du Houx (FR) 33-1 (10-6) Chased leaders on outside, led 5th, headed 7th, led next, mistake and headed 10th, led 11th, headed after 13th, weakened from 3 out, well beaten before 2 out, soon pulled up, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Nocte Volatus 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, soon ridden, hit 2 out and weakened, 9th of 14, 33 1/4l behind Cap Du Nord (10-8) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Golden Whisky (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Led, ridden and headed 4 out, kept on, well held by winner 2 out, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Fugitif (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Iconic Muddle 22-1 (11-9) Held up off the pace towards rear, headway out wide chasing leaders before 3 out, went 3rd at the last, stayed on run-in, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Lieutenant Rocco (11-6) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Zhiguli (IRE) 8-1 (11-13) Held up in last trio, headway on inside tracking leaders after 4 out, ridden and one pace in 4th turning in, weakened between last two, 5th of 7, 14 1/2l behind Stumptown (11-9) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Belargus (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway chasing leaders 13th, disputing modest 3rd home turn until before 3 out, weakened before next, pulled up before the last, at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Prevaricate (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Chased leader until 8th, lost place when mistake next, stopped very quickly, pulled up before 11th, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Keep Wondering (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leading trio, hit 10th, went 3rd 14th, went 2nd after 2 out, ridden and no impression before the last, lost remote 2nd run-in, 3rd of 7, 10 1/4l behind Stumptown (11-9) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Foxboro (GER) 10-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, steady headway 5 out, pushed along and outpaced in 5th after next, 5th of 11, 11 1/2l behind Lieutenant Rocco (11-6) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
