tracked leader on outer, lost place 4 out, ridden after next, weakened from 2 out
tracked leaders, driven 2 out, ridden to chase winner before last, kept on under pressure flat, always held
led, joined after 4 out, headed when ridden after 2 out, faded flat
tracked leaders, hit 3 out, ridden and one pace after next, no impression before last
in touch on outer, mistake 4th, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened last
held up in touch, tracked leaders before 2 out, ridden and one pace between last 2, weakened last
held up in touch, raced keenly and headway on outside 7th, joined leader after 4 out, led on bit after 2 out, ridden out flat, kept on
held up in touch, blundered 2nd, outpaced after 3 out, headway under pressure after next, ridden and stayed on into 3rd flat, no impression with front pair
Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls have dominated this season’s trainers’ championship and have seven of the eight runners between them in this Grade 2. L'Ami Serge is the highest rated of the Henderson legions but is proving hard to win with. Modus looks the pick of the Nicholls’ trio having run with distinction in some of the season’s most valuable handicaps, though he’s never quite lived up to the promise of his bumper form. THE NEW ONE hasn’t lost at this level since finishing second at The Festival in 2013. He’s among the best hurdlers of modern times never to have won a Champion Hurdle and showed he still had plenty to offer when leading until the last in the Aintree Hurdle earlier this month.
Old Guard 25-1 (11-7) Held up in 4th, reached at 4 out, outpaced before 3 out, driven and no impression before 2 out, plugged on, 4th of 6, 17 1/2l behind Buveur D'air (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Ptit Zig (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, headway after 4 out, soon pushed along, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 6th of 11, 25l behind Yanworth (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gd in Apr.
The New One (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Led, clear until before 3rd, jumped right from 4 out, driven and headed before last, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd final 50 yards, 3rd of 6, 6 1/2l behind Buveur D'air (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Modus 16-1 (11-12) In touch, headway and effort on outside 2 out, one pace before last, ridden and no impression after, 6th of 25, 6 1/4l behind Supasundae (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Rather Be (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, driven and effort after 2 out, every chance when left in narrow lead last, ridden and kept on well under pressure flat, held on, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Apr beating Dream Berry (10-13) by 1/2l, 22 ran.
Beat That (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, closed after 3 out, ridden from next, lost place before last, weakened after, 6th of 7, 27 1/4l behind Rock On Ruby (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gs in Jan.
L'Ami Serge (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up behind, headway on inside 3 out, driven to chase leaders next, kept on same pace, never on terms, 5th of 16, 4 1/4l behind Chesterfield (10-12) at Ayr 2m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Volnay De Thaix (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Blundered badly 2nd, last pair, never going or jumped with any fluency after, struggling when not fluent 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 12th, at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
