with leader, led 13th, ridden and headed before 2 out, kept on towards finish
led, not fluent 9th, headed 13th, weakened before last
in touch in 4th, mistake 5 out, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, kept on to lead near finish
tracked leaders, headway before 2 out, soon challenged led before last, kept on and headed near finish
held up towards rear, headway before 8th, led before 2 out, headed before last, kept on towards finish
always in rear, detached before 6 out, pulled up
Imperial Presence was probably helped by the fact that several obstacles were omitted at Newbury in March as he made numerous mistakes when second at Ascot subsequently. Midnight Cowboy has a penalty for a narrow victory at Kempton while dual winning hurdler The Tailgater is having his first run over fences. RED HANRAHAN (NAP) can only build on his run behind a useful sort at Fontwell last month. A strict interpretation of that form suggests he’s well treated here off a mark of 125. The Coffee Hunter has become disappointing while Exxaro is having his first run for Colin Tizzard.
Exxaro (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inner, mistake 7th, ridden from 4 out, soon no impression, pulled up before 2 out, at Wexford 3m 2f gd in Jul.
Imperial Presence (IRE) 2-1fav (10-6) Mistakes, chased leader, hit 1st, went left 5th, hit 8th, blundered 4 out, lost 2nd next, pushed along chasing leading pair, left 2nd soon after 2 out, no impression, mistake last, 2nd of 5, 7l behind San Benedeto (11-12) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Midnight Cowboy 2-1fav (12-3) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd led 4 out, 3 lengths ahead when went badly left and left clear 2 out, 10 lengths ahead when went badly left again last, hung left and idled badly run-in, just held on, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May beating Mahlers Star (11-4) by hd, 7 ran.
Red Hanrahan (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked winner, hit 2nd, not fluent 11th, shaken up 3 out, no impression next, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Shantou Village (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 5f (4) gd in Apr.
The Tailgater (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May beating Royal Debutante (11-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
The Coffee Hunter (FR) 9-4jfav (10-10) Sometimes jumped left, led, hit 2nd, headed 7th, chased leader until after 9th, chased leading pair, pushed along before 4 out, weakening when blundered next, just held on for remote 4th, 4th of 6, 27 1/4l behind River Purple (10-0) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
