prominent, slow 2nd, pushed along and lost place 7th, well beaten from 13th
chased leaders, ran in snatches, not fluent 3rd, well beaten before 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, headway from 14th, blundered badly 3 out, led after 2 out, bumped before last, soon headed, no impression in 3rd flat
chased leaders, lost place 4th, behind when mistake 13th, pulled up after
led 1st until after 6th, led 7th, not fluent and headed 12th, led 13th, headed after 3 out, every chance last, no impression on winner flat
led until 1st, prominent, not fluent 5th, led after 6th, headed 7th, led 12th, headed and not fluent 13th, no extra from 2 out, mistake last
held up in rear, headway from 13th, close up on outside 2 out, no extra last
held up towards rear, headway 5th, lost place after next, closed 9th, led after 3 out, headed after 2 out, no extra last
in rear, slow 1st, mistake 10th, headway when mistake 2 out, stayed on, went never dangerous 4th towards finish
mid-division, closed 2nd, challenging when bumped before last, stayed on well, drawing clear towards finish
High Counsel wasn’t beaten far over a longer trip here last time and bids for a third course victory, though is 3lb out of the handicap proper. Black Anthem was in cracking form last summer but is having a first run since pulled up over hurdles at Fontwell in August. FROM THE HEART (NAP) ran well until lack of peak condition told at Taunton last month. He will be all the better for that run and conditions are in his favour today. He makes greater appeal than enigmatic stablemate Sandy Boy while Well Smitten is better in strongly-run races over shorter trips.
From The Heart (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, progress when asked before 3 out, soon under pressure, not match for front pair on approach to last, 3rd of 9, 13 1/4l behind Sumkindofking (11-7) at Taunton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Black Anthem (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Held up and keen, tailed off and pulled up after 5th, at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Sandy Boy (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) In rear, hard ridden after 13th, weakened from 4 out, 6th of 9, 21 1/4l behind Sumkindofking (11-7) at Taunton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Thomas Shelby (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Led until 2nd, chased leader until 12th, chased leaders, outpaced before 4 out, 4th of 5, 20 3/4l behind Peur De Rien (11-0) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Broadclyst (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Towards rear, outpaced 8th, slow next, tailed off 12th, pulled up before 5 out, at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Well Smitten (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Prominent and keen, ridden after 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 11 1/4l behind Wye Aye (11-7) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Osca Loca (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway into midfield 10th, lost ground 13th, ridden before 4 out, tailed off 3 out, pulled up soon after, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Raven's Tower (USA) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, dropped to rear 14th, ridden along 4 out, made no impression from next, 5th of 10, 24 1/4l behind Twojayslad (10-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Ballyegan Hero (IRE) 18-1 (10-13) Always last, jumped slowly 4th, outpaced next, no chance after, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Fairway Freddy (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
High Counsel (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Tracked leaders, pressed leader 16th, led 4 out, went clear going well before 2 out, pressed at last and soon headed, kept on at same pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Robin Of Sherwood (11-5) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
