mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, weakened last
led, headed before 6th, weakened before 3 out, fell 2 out
close up, outpaced from 3 out
in rear, pushed along and outpaced from 4 out
towards rear, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, weakened 2 out
with leader, led before 6th, headed 5 out, weakened 3 out
in touch, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, weakened before 2 out
in touch, with leader 7th, led 5 out, clear before last, kept on strongly
in touch, chased winner from 4 out, kept on and no impression before last, lost 2nd place towards finish
towards rear, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, kept on and went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
The veteran Morning Royalty won over fences and hurdles last spring and his two later runs over the bigger obstacles were on summer ground. He's a consistent sort at this level while the lightly-raced Diamond Fort was racing from a 10lb higher mark when pulling up at Haydock after victories here and at Chepstow and this is more his level. Becky The Thatcher went up 9lb for winning a lower-grade handicap here and couldn't cope in heavy conditions at Haydock. Westend Story, a dual bumper winner, has been an expensive failure over hurdles having started a short-priced favourite in all four starts. He should be better for his recent run at Carlisle, his first since February, but may be best watched for now. Slanelough did very well in novice company and was carrying a big weight when runner-up in a Doncaster handicap last month but this can go to BOLLIN ACE, who was in excellent form when last seen in the spring and should be capable of better this season
Zaidiyn (FR) 6-1 (9-9) Behind, headway over 3f out, soon no impression, 9th of 13, 5 1/4l behind Mobbhij (9-7) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Bollin Ace 9-2 (11-12) Led until before 7th, led after 3 out, headed last, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Mr Clarkson (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Jaleo (GER) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 14, 9 3/4l behind Golan Fortune (10-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Morning Royalty (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway after 14th, no impression last, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 16 3/4l behind Fact Of The Matter (10-12) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Diamond Fort (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Mid-division on inside, hampered 6th, weakened after 4 out, soon tailed off and pulled up, at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
Dedigout (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Always behind, 8th of 9, dist behind Elusive Theatre (10-6) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Becky The Thatcher 14-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, not clear run after 3 out, switched left before next, soon outpaced, went 4th flat, no impression, 4th of 7, 8 1/2l behind Eminent Poet (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Catchamat 25-1 (11-10) Raced wide close up, dropped to rear at 4th, ridden and weakened 4 out, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Tawseef (11-12) at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Westend Story (IRE) 6-4fav (10-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd when not fluent 6th, challenged 3 out, ridden and stayed on towards stand side rail between last 2, no extra when not fluent last, well held in 4th flat, 4th of 9, 11 1/4l behind Desert Cry (11-11) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Slanelough (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Held up mid-division, driven to chase leaders 3 out, soon ridden, went 2nd and every chance between last 2, kept on same pace, held flat, 2nd of 12, 3 3/4l behind Huntsman Son (12-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Craggaknock 12-1 (9-9) Held up behind, pushed along over 3f out, soon outpaced, 8th of 11, 25 1/4l behind Barwell (9-1) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Sep.
