led until 5th, led after 7th, headed 11th, led after 12th, clear last, stayed on well
in touch in mid-division, outpaced 12th, well beaten before 4 out
chased winner, mistake 3rd, pecked 9th, mistake and lost place next, stayed on well from 3 out
raced keenly, held up, struggling from 11th, well held after
tracked leaders, led 5th, headed after 7th, led 11th, headed after next, weakened before mistake 4 out, soon pulled up
held up in rear, hampered 2nd, headway from 8th, 2 lengths 2nd when fell 4 out
held up in rear, hampered 2nd, headway after 12th, left 2nd when hampered 4 out, not fluent 2 out, no impression last
held up towards rear on outside, closed 7th, lost place after 12th
chased leaders, mistake and unseated rider 2nd
A competitive renewal of this long-established handicap which features previous course winners Cracking Find and Kayf Blanco. Both did well last season and warrant respect while Chef D'equipe is capable when in the mood. Niven rarely runs a bad race and could be interesting sharing bottom weight but Crievehill and Sky Pirate have become hard to place. ASCOT DE BRUYERE wouldn’t mind any further rain and is normally a bold-jumping front-runner. He won over this trip at Newcastle last season and also scored at that track under Brian Hughes earlier so a bold bid is anticipated.
Crievehill (IRE) 40-1 (11-8) Led, headed 15th, pressed leader, lost place 3 out, soon one pace, ridden and stayed on to take modest 4th flat, 4th of 23, 12 1/4l behind Any Second Now (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Cracking Find (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Led, fell 1st, at Aintree 2m hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Ascot De Bruyere (FR) 5-6fav (11-12) Led, not fluent 9th, reached at 11th, not fluent 14th, headed 3 out, no impression next, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 4, 14l behind Special Prep (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Chef D'Equipe (FR) (10-12) at Auteuil 2m 6f hvy in May.
Dimple (FR) 16-1 (10-9) Led until after 9th, chased leaders, mistake and weakened 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Ayr 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Sky Pirate 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, effort on outside after 3 out, every chance next, ridden and outpaced by front pair approaching last, weakened flat, 7th of 23, 17 1/4l behind Any Second Now (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Kayf Blanco 11-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5 out, led after next, ridden and headed between last 2, soon no extra, well held in 4th after last, 4th of 9, 11 1/4l behind Forth Bridge (11-3) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Niven (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, mistake rider lost iron briefly 2nd, headway approaching 4 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Peppay Le Pugh (11-5) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Slanelough (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) In touch, hampered 1st, progress to join leader next, led after 6th, strongly challenged from 2 out, headed approaching when fell last, at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
