held up, headway approaching 3 out to track leaders, ridden to lead flat, headed towards finish
held up, headway 6th, ridden to challenge after 3 out, one pace from next
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, 6, beaten when stumbled last
held up, headway after 4th, weakened 6th, tailed off
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th until 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next
led, hit 4th, ridden, headed 2 out, rallied to lead soon after last, headed final 100 yards, no extra
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden to lead 2 out, headed soon after last, no extra
mid-division, ridden after 5th, weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place 5th, headway after 3 out, not much room last, ran on to lead towards finish, pushed out
held up towards rear, weakened 6th
L'Eau Du Nil was good value for his win at Stratford last week but a 7lb penalty for that success means that he has to race off a career high mark today and he may struggle to follow up in a race taken to go ROYAL RATIONALE, who gets the verdict ahead of Quasar d'Oudairies. The last mentioned has shown improved form with each start this term, latterly finishing a close fourth behind Nortonthorpe Lad at Ludlow and he has to be respected off a 1lb lower mark today. Gary Moore's Ameeq is fit from the flat and comes form a stable in form so cannot be discounted, while Nothing Is Forever has claims on an improved effort here last time but has been raised 2lbs since then. Simon Burrough's Simply Blue won narrowly at Wincanton last time despite his jockey losing his whip after the last and has claims off just a 2lb higher mark today but preference is for the consistent Royal Rationale. David Pipe's gelding only has the one success to his name this winter but has been placed on all other starts and off a fair mark, he can resume winning ways and give weight away all round.
Royal Rationale (IRE) 4-1fav (11-3) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, every chance approaching 2 out, no extra after last, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Cedrus Libani (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Nov.
L'Eau Du Nil (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up well in rear, headway approaching 2 out, led soon after last, ran on well, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs beating Starr Flyer (9-13) by 3l, 12 ran.
Ameeq (USA) 40-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, weakening when mistake 4 out, left remote 4th next, 4th of 5, well behind Herecomesthetruth (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Amour Multiple (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Led, hit 4th and next, headed and weakened 3 out, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Secret Tune (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Overstrand (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out and weakened before next, 9th of 19, 27l behind Dave's Dream (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd.
Nothing Is Forever (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led, mistake 3 out, ridden, headed before next, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Ski Sunday (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Simply Blue 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, ridden approaching last, kept on gamely, rider dropped whip flat, led close home, won at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft beating Benetwood (11-7) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Master Mahogany 33-1 (11-0) Always in rear, last of 7, 38l behind Simply Blue (10-13) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Quasar d'Oudairies (FR) 8-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, pushed along 6th, soon outpaced, headway when not fluent 3 out, stayed on same pace last, 4th of 9, 5l behind Nortonthorpe Lad (11-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Arthurs Dream (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 5th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Triple Bluff (9-13) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
