not that fluent in rear, headway 8th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, hampered by loose horse and unseated rider 3 out
led, bumped 5th, clear briefly when not fluent 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, weakened last
jumped right, chased leaders, lost place 2nd, bumped next, headway 4 out, challenged 2 out, held flat
chased leader, bumped 5th, lost 2nd after 4 out, 4th and weakening when mistake 3 out
took keen hold, chased clear leaders, closed 5th, went 2nd after 4 out, led 2 out, pushed out flat
in rear, not always fluent, well beaten when blundered 4 out, left 4th next
Vancouver is hard to assess as he's been competing primarily in selling hurdles apart from when a well-beaten third of four over fences on his penultimate start. Bob's Call was beaten a long way the last twice and Spring Steel returns after a 717-day absence. Fago showed improved form when third of four at Aintree last month and is respected but we'll go with LYCIDAS. He looked in need of the race at Kelso after a lengthy absence and wind surgery and will be hard to topple if close to the form displayed in the spring and summer of 2017. Tikkinthebox also returns from wind surgery and the market should guide to his chance as he too has claims on his previous best.
Lycidas (GER) 11-4cfav (11-12) Led, blundered 3rd, clear until went right 6th, blundered 4 out, headed before next, no chance with winner from 2 out, lost 2nd between last 2, weakened last, 3rd of 5, 23l behind Felix Mendelssohn (10-3) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
Tikkinthebox (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Not fluent, led until 7th, led 9th, headed 13th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next, at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Vancouver 4-1 (11-4) Made most until 4th, not fluent and outpaced 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, plugged on, no impression and mistake last, 3rd of 5, 5 3/4l behind Doubly Clever (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m (5) gs in Jun.
Fago (FR) 25-1 (10-10) Playing up at start, chased leader, challenged 4th, led next, clear 4 out until after 3 out, headed just after 2 out, soon beaten, lost 2nd last, 3rd of 4, 4 3/4l behind Ashoka (11-8) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gs in Jun.
Spring Steel (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, hard pressed next, ridden and headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Muwalla (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Bob's Call (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Not fluent 1st, chased leaders, not fluent and reminder after 11th, not fluent again 13th, lost place 4 out, behind from next, last of 6, 28 1/2l behind Global Domination (11-9) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in May.
