held up in rear, slow 2nd and 5th, mistake 18th, well beaten 3 out
prominent, mistake and lost place 14th, behind 17th
held up in rear, headway 18th, lost place after 3 out, mistake and weakened 2 out, pulled up before last
chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 14th, closed next, 2nd from 15th, no impression on winner when not fluent last
mid-division, effort on inside 18th, not much room 3 out, no impression before next
mid-division, headway on outside 14th, disputing 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, no extra and lost 3rd towards finish
made all, slow 3rd, cajoled along bend before 12th, not fluent 15th, clear last, stayed on gamely
took keen hold, chased winner 2nd until 15th, 4th and beaten when hit 2 out, no extra
held up towards rear, not fluent 13th, stayed on from 2 out, closing on 4th close home, never dangerous
held up, closed 9th, lost place before 3 out
held up in rear, not always fluent, blundered 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd towards finish
Loose Chips won this qualifier in 2016 and was third last year, ahead of stablemate Pete The Feat and the 2015 winner Vino Griego. ROCK GONE is a fascinating runner have been very lightly raced down the years. He was second in a Grade 3 at Ascot on his reappearance last season and would be hard to beat if running up to that form after yet another lay-off. Carole's Destrier was third in one of these at Chepstow four weeks ago, splitting a couple of runners who went on to finish first and second in another veteran’s race at Aintree. Rathlin Rose was highly tried after winning at Ascot in March and bids for a fourth course victory so shouldn’t be ignored.
Theatre Guide (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Never better than mid-division, pushed along and struggling before 5 out, never a factor, 12th of 13, dist behind Kings Lad (10-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 66-1 (11-1) Mid-division, close up 7th (foinavon), blundered and dropped to mid-division 11th, weakening when blundered and pulled up after 5 out,, at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Carole's Destrier 9-2 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 10th, chased leaders and one pace in 3rd from 3 out, 3rd of 13, 9 1/2l behind Kings Lad (10-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Rock Gone (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 14th, driven and outpaced before 2 out, ridden between last 2, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 4 1/2l behind Go Conquer (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, pecked 5th (water), challenged 17th, not fluent and left in lead 2 out, 2 lengths ahead flat, held on bravely, won at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Horatio Hornblower (10-12) by nk, 7 ran.
Rathlin Rose (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Wore ear plugs in prelims, mid-division, headway chasing leaders 19th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next, at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Loose Chips 16-1 (11-8) Led, driven 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, lost place before last, no impression flat, 5th of 10, 8 1/2l behind Looksnowtlikebrian (11-2) at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Mendip Express (IRE) 2-1 (12-2) Tracked winner, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 8 1/4l behind Creevytennant (12-6) at Perth 3m (5) gd in May.
Flaming Charmer (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Prominent, mistake 10th, ridden next, hit 12th, no impression in 4th 2 out, 5th of 7, 34 3/4l behind Crievehill (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Vino Griego (FR) 11-1 (10-13) Led until 7th, pressed leader, led again 9th until 15th, chased winner and every chance 3 out, lost 2nd between last 2, weakened last, 5th of 10, 19l behind Tanit River (11-0) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Court Frontier (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) In rear, ridden 4 out, beaten when unseated rider next, at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) fm in Oct.
