tracked leaders on outside, outpaced 2 out, no impression between last 2, weakened flat
held up behind, headway and effort 2 out, ridden to lead between last 2, ran on flat (all flights in back straight omitted due to low sun)
tracked leader, ridden and effort before 2 out, lost place between last 2, weakened flat
mid-division, lost place on long run before 2 out, behind when hampered and unseated rider 2 out
tracked leaders, outpaced before 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, weakened last
tracked leaders, led on long run before 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, no impression in 4th flat
mid-division, tracked leaders before 2 out, ridden between last 2, stayed on to take narrow 3rd flat, no impression
towards rear, headway to chase leaders when hampered and unseated rider 2 out
led, headed on long run before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, headway on outside before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no impression with winner
held up towards rear, headway to tracked leaders when brought down 2 out
mid-division, headway on long run before 2 out, close up and every chance when fell 2 out
STEPOVER won twice here last year and finished a close second on two other occasions before ending the campaign with a victory at Hereford in November. She hasn't raced subsequently but is still well enough treated to overcome a long absence. Sword Of Fate was in very good form over hurdles in the autumn but only had one opponent to beat on his chasing bow here last month. Symphony Of Angels beat two rivals here in June before following-up at Hexham and has changed stables while Oliver's Gold won over fences here last month and can revert to hurdles on a 10lb lower mark so has to be on the shortlist. Knight Commander completed a double last summer and though a bit disappointing later is young enough to bounce back from this sort of mark.
Sword Of Fate (IRE) 5-4 (11-12) Raced quite freely, led 2nd from sole rival, edged left before not fluent 4 out, shaken up approaching 2 out, stayed on, won at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gd in May beating Copper West (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 2 ran.
Symphony Of Angels 33-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 2 out, no real impression, not fluent last, 7th of 15, 11 1/4l behind Magic Dancer (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Eureu Du Boulay (FR) 12-1 (10-6) Held up last, weakened 3 out, mistake next, 5th of 6, dist behind Risk And Roll (10-0) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Apr.
Oliver's Gold 9-2 (11-1) Held up behind, headway 5 out, 5th and ridden after last, rallied flat, stayed on to chase winner final furlong, always held, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Stynes (11-0) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in May.
Exitas (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leading pair until weakened before 2 out, 5th of 10, 22 1/2l behind Level Of Intensity (11-0) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Idder (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Prominent, ridden before 2 out, weakened soon after, 11th of 14, dist behind Rhymers Stone (11-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Stole The Show (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, effort under pressure into 4th 2 out, no further headway before last, 4th of 9, 15 1/2l behind Flo'sboy Sam (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in May.
Joycetick (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3 out, soon beaten, well held 2 out, 7th of 13, 29 1/4l behind Bandsman (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Ninepointsixthree 6-1 (10-10) In rear, went 4th from 2 out chased winner before last, always well held, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Beeno (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Stepover 3-1 (10-5) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, challenged going well 2 out, went right and led last, ridden out flat, won at Hereford 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Apache Song (11-2) by 2l, 5 ran.
Retrieve (AUS) 13-2 (9-11) In rear, raced wide on 1st bend after 2f, soon chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 6, 7 3/4l behind Raashdy (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in May.
Knight Commander 8-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, kept on run-in, 4th of 13, 9 1/4l behind On A Promise (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov.