raced keenly, held up in touch, 4th before 3 out, led going well and stumbled slightly 2 out, joined last, ridden and stayed on well run-in to assert towards finish
held up in last pair, some late minor headway
led and disputed, in front after 2nd until after 3 out, chased leader, pushed along and slightly outpaced before 2 out, rallied to hold every chance last, no extra towards finish
chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2
led and disputed, headed after 2nd, in front again after 3 out until 2 out, not quicken in 3rd before the last, weakened run-in
held up last, jumped slowly 3rd, never on terms
held up towards rear, awkward on landing 1st, never on terms
chased leading trio, weakened 3 out
Paul Nicholls has trained the winner of this in four of the last five years and run Starsky and also Flic Ou Voyou, who was only headed close home on his return to action at Chepstow, despite pulling hard. Colin Tizzard trained the winner of that latter contest and saddles FIDDLERONTHE ROOF in this. Though the drop in trip and sharper track may not be ideal, he made a cracking hurdling debut in the Persian War at Chepstow and had enough pace to win a 2m bumper at Navan in March. First Lord De Cuet has already won
Edwardstone 3-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 3f out, chased winner over 1f out, no impression, kept on, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Chantry House (11-2) at Warwick 2m (5) sft in Mar.
Espion (FR) 5-1 (11-2) Fractious and unseated rider in paddock, held up in rear, driven along over 3f out, plugged on, 5th of 9, 15 3/4l behind Flic Ou Voyou (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f (5) gd in Nov.
Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 2 out, hard pressed last, soon ridden, headed flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Thyme Hill (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f (1) gs in Oct.
First Lord De Cuet (FR) 7-4fav (11-0) Pressed leader, led 5f out, clear final 2f, easily, won at Plumpton 2m 2f (5) gs in Mar beating Mr Harp (11-0) by 13l, 7 ran.
Flic Ou Voyou (FR) 2-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, with leader, led after 1st, clear when wandered next, mistake 2 out, soon driven and hard pressed, ridden before last, headed flat, rallied towards finish, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Ofalltheginjoints (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) gs in Oct.
Folly Gate (FR) Montmartre gelding out of Cate Bleue.
Starsky (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Led until over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 5 1/4l behind Capac (10-7) at Taunton 2m mdn (5) gd in Apr.
Who Shot Jr (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Always towards rear and never a factor, tailed off, 15th of 16, dist behind Sevarano (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Oct.
