held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 13th, pressed leaders and mistake 2 out, ridden and good jump to lead last, driven out to assert run-in
disputed lead, left in front 12th, ridden before 2 out, strongly pressed 2 out, hit last and headed, kept on but not pace of winner
mistake 1st in rear, headway to track front rank 5 out, mistake 3 out, soon ridden and weakened quickly
disputed lead, unseated rider 12th
tracked leaders, left in second 12th, pressed leader 4 out, ridden before 3 out, every chance when mistake last, no extra flat
chased leaders, unseated rider 5th
mid-division, mistake 14th, pushed along after 5 out, gradually faded
towards rear, slow jump 3rd, headway into mid-division 5 out, weakened from 2 out
mid-division, badly hampered 12th and dropped to last, soon pushed along and effort get back in touch before 4 out, ridden 4 out and soon beaten
An open-looking finale with most having some sort of chance, though Cracking Find is trying 3m for the first time after a break. Sigurd improved last season but is still 8lb higher than when scoring over course and distance in March and Ask Paddy may still be in the handicapper’s grip. All of Ecossais’ UK wins have come at Southwell and he would have preferred more give in the ground on his reappearance. The penny has dropped with FRAU GEORGIA based on a win at Perth and a second at Worcester and, despite a further 2lb rise, he is still getting plenty of weight from Newton Abbot runner-up Soyouthinksoagain and the less-exposed Quick Draw.
Soyouthinksoagain (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Chased leaders throughout, ridden before 2 out, kept on to take second run-in, not pace of winner, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind The Newest One (11-5) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Cash To Ash (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Midfield, bad mistake 14th, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last, at Carlisle 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Grange Ranger (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, mistake 2 out, no chance with winner when jumped left last, drifted left flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 18 3/4l behind Itsnotyouitsme (11-2) at Hexham 2m 4f (4) sft in May.
Ask Paddy (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Jumped right at times, led until after 1st, led after 3rd, headed last, held flat, kept on, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind William Of Orange (11-7) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Cracking Find (IRE) 5-1 (10-4) Chased leader, led 5th, headed 7th, led before 9th, headed approaching final bend, held after, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Fire Away (11-3) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in May.
Ecossais (FR) 10-3 (11-5) Held up behind leaders, almost on terms 15th, pushed in 2nd before 3 out, ridden after 2 out and could not go with leader, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 19l behind Gran Paradiso (10-10) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Blazer (FR) 33-1 (11-8) Mid-division, dropped to rear 4th, ridden 4 out, gradually faded, last of 7, 34 3/4l behind Northern Bound (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Always in rear, well behind before 5 out, soon pulled up, at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Sigurd (GER) 15-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, shaken up after 15th, lost place before 3 out, 6th of 7, 12l behind Well Smitten (11-0) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (4) gs in May.
Quick Draw (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Chased leaders, slow 10th, close up 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Your Darling (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Frau Georgia (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Held up off the pace in 5th, smooth headway out wide going well 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and stayed on run-in, always held, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Coral (11-0) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Sep.
