tracked leader, shuffled back but still in touch 1oth, pushed along and lost ground 11th, adrift 13th, pulled up before 14th
held up in touch, close up 3rd, upsides 6th, restrained behind leader 8th, took closer order 5 out, upsides 4 out, led narrowly travelling well 3 out, pushed into lead before last, pushed out flat
restrained towards rear, hit 8th and pushed along, driven in rear before 5 out, well adrift from 4 out
led to 1st where not fluent, held up behind leaders, slow 2nd, still close up when pushed along before 4 out, ridden to chase leader 2 out, kept on well flat but no chance with winner
held up in touch, lost ground 5th, awkward 6th, pulled up before 7th
close up, led after 1st, joined 4 out, ridden and headed before 3 out, kept on before last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, modest headway under pressure 3 out, no extra from 2 out, plugged on from last
held up, progress before 4 out, hit 3 out and ridden, weakened from 2 out
in rear, ridden and lost ground before 4 out, one pace
held up, midfield 4th, chased leaders 11th, ridden and no extra from 3 out
Cyrname is the highest-rated British chaser in training but he has an abysmal record when going left-handed and 3m around here in a strongly-run race may beyond the limits of his endurance. La Bague Au Roi started favourite for this 12 months ago but ran a shocker and was pulled up. Ballyoptic eventually came home in front with 2018 winner Definitly Red only fourth but the latter is much better off at the weights today. Vinndication won the Grade 3 handicap at Ascot on this day last year and didn’t run again until fourth under a big weight at Cheltenham in March. His record fresh means he demands the utmost respect but SAM SPINNER, despite taking liberties here and Doncaster last season, is still unbeaten over fences and this very smart staying hurdler is reported to have schooled well in recent weeks.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Headway on inside chasing leaders 2nd, led after 4th, made rest, came clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Feb beating Valtor (11-3) by 8 1/2l, 8 ran.
Cyrname (FR) 4-11fav (11-7) Led, joined 12th, headed 3 out, pushed along and no extra in 3rd next, well beaten when fell last, at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Definitly Red (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Not fluent 1st, tracked leader, driven to lead after 2 out (usual 4 out), forged clear bypassing omitted 2 out, ridden out final furlong, stayed on well, tired near finish, won at Kelso 2m 7f lst (1) hvy in Feb beating Kauto Riko (10-12) by 14l, 5 ran.
Vinndication (IRE) 11-2jfav (11-12) Always prominent, challenged 3 out, led narrowly next, ridden and headed flat, no extra towards finish, lost 3rd final strides, 4th of 23, 2 3/4l behind The Conditional (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Sam Spinner 6-5 (11-1) Awkward 1st, tracked leading pair, hit 3rd, went 2nd next, led 7th, blundered almost unseated rider who lost irons briefly and great recovery 13th, not fluent next, went clear before 3 out, easily, won at Doncaster 3m (1) sft in Dec beating Windsor Avenue (11-1) by dist, 3 ran.
Aye Right (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Mid-division, slow leap 1st, chased leaders 4 out, ridden after 3 out, stayed on after last, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Nuts Well (11-7) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Keeper Hill (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Chased leader, not fluent 4th, ridden before 3 out, lost 2nd before next, one pace, 3rd of 7, 8 1/2l behind Highland Hunter (10-7) at Musselburgh 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Mister Whitaker (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Hit 1st, in touch, driven to chase leaders when left 3rd 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, not reach front pair, 3rd of 23, 3l behind Simply The Betts (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Saint Xavier (FR) (10-5) at Compiegne 2m 6f sft in Jun.
La Bague Au Roi (FR) 2-1jfav (11-12) Led, jumped left 1st, pushed along 2 out, not fluent last, weakened on run-in, 4th of 8, 20 1/4l behind Amalfi Doug (10-6) at Perth 3m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
