with leader, led 4th, ridden a few lengths clear before last, reduced lead final 75 yards, just held on
held up towards rear, mistake, some headway on inside 3 out, no impression on leaders
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, pushed along after 6th, plugged on from 3 out, no chance with leaders
led, not fluent 2nd, headed 4th, chased winner after, ridden before 2 out, closed final 75 yards, stayed on, just held
jumped left, chased leaders, lost place after 5th, well beaten 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
jumped slightly left, mid-division, bumped 2nd, closed 6th, disputing 2nd 2 out, held in 3rd last, no extra and dropped to 4th flat
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, lost place 6th, well beaten 3 out, tailed off
not always fluent, in rear, well behind from 6th, tailed off
mid-division, not fluent 1st, bumped next, closed 6th, 4th and one pace 2 out, went 3rd flat
Several of these are graduating from bumpers. Turpin Gold is one and Midnight Centurion is another but Dan Skelton won both divisions of this last year and also saddled the winner in 2018 so there’s a good chance that ROCK LEGEND, a half-brother to three winners including the smart Wicklow Brave, will know what’s required. Anyharminasking won a point in April but Geromino, rated 119, sets the standard despite carrying a penalty. King Ferdinand should be best of the rest.
Geromino (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 4th of 6, 24 1/4l behind One Fine Man (11-1) at Cartmel 2m 6f (4) gd in May.
Ashover Hills (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in midfield on outside, headway end of back straight, ridden and weakened before home turn, 7th of 9, 24 1/4l behind Fringill Dike (10-9) at Hexham 2m (5) gd in Apr.
Dragoon Springs (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Held up last, ridden 4 out, awkward 3 out, no impression, plugged on, 6th of 8, 23 1/4l behind Father John (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Sep.
Midnight Centurion 6-4 (11-4) Led early, 2nd until 11f out, pushed along 8f out, went 2nd again over 3f out, no impression on winner over 1f out, 2nd of 4, 4 3/4l behind Knickerbockerglory (11-4) at Ludlow 1m 6f (4) hvy in Jan.
R Bernard Norse Dancer gelding out of Channel Treat.
Turpin Gold 9-4 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, switched right entering final furlong, stayed on, not quite able to challenge, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Fifrelet (11-7) at Worcester 2m (5) gd in Sep.
Anyharminasking (IRE) (11-11) Ld/disp, 2l 2nd 1/2way, cl 2nd 2out, 1l 2nd bef last where mstk, ld early flat & rallied best, won at Tipperary 3m Yielding in Apr beating Constitution Hill (11-6) by hd, 11 ran.
Best Pal (IRE) 6-5jfav (10-12) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 3, 19l behind Bari Breeze (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (5) gd in Sep.
Heritier (FR) Evens (10-3) Led, ridden 3f out, headed final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Houka D'oudairies (9-12) at Vichy 1m 5f hvy in May.
Rock Legend (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, some headway when ridden entering home straight, stayed on to chase leaders over 1f out, no extra close home (finished 3rd, placed 4th), 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Kandoo Kid (11-5) at Taunton 2m mdn (5) gf in Apr.
King Ferdinand (IRE) 17-2 (10-13) Held up in last, detached down back straight, never a factor, 7th of 8, dist behind Restandbethankful (11-6) at Stratford 2m (4) gs in May.
Samatian (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Chased leader, ridden over 4 out, weakened tamely 2 out, 9th of 14, 25 1/4l behind Unanswered Prayers (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) gs in Oct.
