close 3rd on inside, went 2nd after 3rd, led going well before 11th, soon clear, pushed 4 lengths ahead last, kept up to work until eased towards finish
led until pushed along and headed before 11th, lost 2nd before next, weakened and pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders in 4th, hit 6th and reminder, dropped to 5th and off the pace at 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
off the pace in last pair, never remotely on terms, went remote 4th 4 out, tailed off
tracked leader until after 3rd, went 2nd again before 12th, pushed along before 3 out, 4 lengths down at the last, no chance with winner
tracked leaders in 5th, closer in 4th at 9th, went 3rd before 12th, plugged on, never any chance
off the pace in rear, lost remote 4th 4 out, never remotely involved
NonRunner
A visor replaces cheekpieces on Golden Whisky but he’s hard to catch right. New Age Dawning, however, has been threatening to get his head back in front. Striking A Pose hasn’t won since his chasing debut at the end of 2021 but produced a better effort at Huntingdon earlier this month, though could find the top weight DOCTOR KEN has too much class. Olly Murphy’s gelding has had a few months off but looked a nice prospect in two run over fences in the autumn, despite showing signs of inexperience.
Doctor Ken (FR) 6-5fav (11-7) Always prominent, not fluent 2nd, challenged after 12th, shaken up before 3 out, soon ridden, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Gold Cup Bailly (11-10) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Golden Whisky (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 2nd, headed 5th, mistake next, slow and lost place 8th, jumped slowly after, behind when pulled up before 12th, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Kap Auteuil (FR) 15-2 (12-0) Raced keenly, chased leaders out wide, bad mistake 11th, soon lost place, tailed off after 4 out, pulled up before next, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Young Buck (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, dropped towards rear before hitting 10th, pushed before 14th, remote 4th 3 out, plugged on one pace, 4th of 6, dist behind Super Survivor (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
New Age Dawning (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Edgy and mounted after leaving paddock, led until ridden and headed omitted 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Raddon Top (11-3) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Striking A Pose (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, hit 6th and 7th, pushed along 9th, struggling 4 out, ridden after 3 out, rallied before 2 out, kept on and took 3rd towards finish, not trouble leaders, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Dibble Decker (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Fraternel (FR) 11-8 (11-3) Held up in touch, pushed along before 4 out, no impression, pulled up before last, at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Key Commander (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd before 3rd, outpaced in 4th when not fluent 3 out, no extra, 4th of 9, 8 1/2l behind Not Sure (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
