held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, ridden to lead last, kept on strongly
tracked leader, weakened before 3 out
behind, fell 2nd
in rear, headway before 4 out, in 4th from last, weakened run-in
tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out
tracked leader, led 2 out, headed last, one pace
tracked leaders, outpaced before 3 out, kept on and no impression
held up mid-division, ridden before and headway 3 out, chased winner after last, kept on and no impression
led and soon clear until headed 2 out, kept on same pace
Boite landed a novice hurdle over the trip at Stratford and has been going well on the Flat having easily won a handicap at Goodwood on soft ground in June. He should go well though will probably be better over further. EL BEAU has scored twice over hurdles and has been in winning form on the Flat during the summer. He looks reasonably treated on his return to timber and gets the vote as William Of Orange has been struggling in better company since scoring at Catterick in January. Sakhee's City won at Catterick in March and started off in handicaps off a mark of 116 but he's now 9lb higher after finishing runner-up four times. Waterclock's one victory over timber came over 2m5f and he's been running in staying races on the level and though Hartside and Circus Star have won on the track they look to have plenty to do at the weights.
Boite (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 12 3/4l behind Sea Of Heaven (9-5) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
El Beau (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Close up, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 3 1/4l behind Empress Ali (9-9) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Sakhee's City (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Held up, mid-division, headway before 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and always held, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Eyes Of A Tiger (10-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Ifandbutwhynot (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) In rear, raced wide from 6 out until 4 out, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, pulled up, at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Waterclock (IRE) 20-1 (8-7) Towards rear, soon pushed along, well beaten final 4f, 9th of 11, 23 3/4l behind Gleese The Devil (9-0) at York 2m hcp stks (4) gd in Oct.
Vodka Wells (FR) 14-1 (10-7) Mid-division, weakened from 3 out, last of 7, dist behind Wisty (10-0) at Kelso 2m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Hartside (GER) 28-1 (10-12) Mid-division, outpaced after 6th, well beaten from 3 out, last of 12, dist behind Mountainside (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
William Of Orange 10-1 (10-12) Held up, towards rear, headway before 3 out, kept on same pace, 6th of 13, 17 1/4l behind Eyes Of A Tiger (10-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Circus Star (USA) 33-1 (11-0) Led and went clear, reduced lead when not fluent 6th, headed before 2 out, no impression on winner, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Cooking Fat (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
