pressed leader, hit 4th, led after 6th, headed 3 out, well held from next
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, outpaced when not fluent 3 out, well held when mistake next
mid-division, headway 3 out, 3rd before next, no impression, weakened into 4th when not fluent last
chased leaders, outpaced before 3 out, well held from next, blundered last
mid-division, slightly hampered 2nd, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd before 3 out, challenged going well 2 out, soon led, easily
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd when mistake last, no chance with winner
led until after 6th, led again when mistake 3 out, headed after 2 out, no chance with winner, stayed on same pace
in rear, mistake 5th, lost touch after next, tailed off
Nonrunner
Moidore should confirm Leicester running with Akula on slightly worse terms but continues to creep up the handicap despite not winning. Rouquine Sauvage reverts to hurdles after falling on her chasing bow but is another high enough in the weights. Verano has been racing over further, though did win over course and distance in March and is at his best of soft going. ITSHARD TO NO would need to improve on his second at Bangor to feature in a race like this but is capable of doing so and he's preferred to veteran Beau Lake, who is eased in grade but has never won off a mark this high.
Verano (GER) 4-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, held up and behind, headway approaching 4th, chased leaders next, 2nd before 8th, led when mistake and rider lost iron briefly next, headed 3 out, chased leaders, rallied last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind The Geegeez Geegee (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Beau Lake (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 8, 14 1/4l behind Baby King (11-2) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Itshard To No (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up, headway to chase winner approaching 2 out, no impression from next, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Its'afreebee (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) sft in Nov.
Moidore 8-1 (11-5) In rear, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on, 3rd of 13, 7 1/2l behind Sir Valentino (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
For Good Measure (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up behind, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 9, 11 3/4l behind Brain Power (10-12) at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Beau Bay (FR) 66-1 (11-9) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 7th, 10th of 11, 31 3/4l behind Panis Angelicus (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Akula (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Close up, led after 2nd, headed 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 14 1/2l behind Sir Valentino (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Vedani (IRE) 40-1 (9-12) Slowly into stride, towards rear, hampered on inside 8f out, never a factor, 8th of 14, 22 1/2l behind Jarlath (9-1) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Rouquine Sauvage 8-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up in last, not fluent 4th, about 5 lengths down when fell 4 out, at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
