pressed leader until 5th, lost place 4 out, weakening when fell next
prominent, mistake 1st, lost place before 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd 5th, led 3 out, headed before last, one pace
mid-division, lost place before 4 out, hampered 3 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, outpaced after 7th, effort 4 out, no impression next, plugged on flat
held up, mistake 1st, not fluent 4th, headway approaching 4 out, no impression from 2 out
prominent when bumped 1st, chased leaders, lost place 3rd, not fluent next, behind when pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, headway 2 out, soon went 4th, stayed on same pace, never involved
mistakes, towards rear, behind when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, close 3rd 2 out, led before last, stayed on well
held up, headway 4th, challenged after 2 out, every chance last, no impression final 75 yards
led, jumped right, headed 3 out, weakened next, pulled up before last
in rear, struggling 4 out, hampered next, soon well behind, pulled up before last
Philip Hobbs won this last year with Bertie Boru and has an excellent strike-rate here with his chasers. He has entered the hat-trick seeking course and distance winner Al Alfa, who should go well despite taking a step up in grade. Cody Wyoming just failed to overhaul Arkaim on his reappearance at Kempton and won on this card 12 months ago while another course winner, Hepijeu, is fancied to reverse recent Ludlow running with Jayo Time on the revised terms. Keel Haul, Saint Raph and Roc D'apsis are all worth noting for future reference but African Gold has been off for a while and Kauto Stone has a lot to prove at present. TARA ROAD will have needed his comeback run at Chepstow but ran better than the final result suggests. Still held in some regard by connections, he has few miles on the clock and could be a bit of value in a race like this.
Kauto Stone (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Led, mistake and unseated rider 3rd, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
African Gold (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, ridden and struggling when not fluent 8th, soon behind, pulled up after, at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Al Alfa 13-8fav (10-12) Made most, ridden when hard pressed before 2 out, stayed on well towards finish, won at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (4) gd in Sep beating Lamool (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Tara Road 8-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway before 5 out, weakened next, 7th of 9, 10 1/2l behind Astracad (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Keel Haul (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Mid-division, some headway when not fluent 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 10, dist behind Rebel Rebellion (11-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Jayo Time (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up, bumped 1st, 2nd and 4th, closed 6th, went 2nd when mistake 4 out, ridden after 3 out, led last, stayed on, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Hepijeu (10-6) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Comeonginger (IRE) 4-1fav (11-12) Led to after 1st, tracked leaders, hit 12th, led 4 out, headed next, ridden and one pace 2 out, weakened last tailed off, 6th of 8, 35 1/2l behind Top Cat Henry (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Saint Raph (FR) 5-1fav (10-3) Led to 10th, lost place next, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next, at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Cody Wyoming 4-1fav (11-1) Led until 2nd, tracked clear leader, rallied 3 out, kept on well under prerssure, never reached winner, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Arkaim (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Roc D'Apsis (FR) 4-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th, ridden after 4 out, soon beaten, weakened before 2 out, last of 7, dist behind Lamool (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f (4) gd in Jun.
Key To The West (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Held up on outside, blundered badly 9th, effort 12th, no impression, weakened after 13th, pulled up after, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Hepijeu (FR) 2-1fav (10-6) Led, ridden and headed last, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Jayo Time (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Spring Steel (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear on outside, lost place before 5th, well beaten after next, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Mont Choisy (11-12) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
