led, headed before 3rd, prominent, ridden to lead again soon after 3 out, headed before next, soon weakened
prominent, led before 3rd, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, soon weakened tailed off
held up in rear, in touch when ridden after 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, effort after 3 out, weakened 2 out
close up, outpaced from 4th, behind from 3 out
awkward first, tracked leaders next, led before 2 out, ran on, comfortable
Iron Heart won twice on the Flat for Andrew Balding and has joined David Pipe but Paul Nicholls, who sent out last year’s winner, probably holds the key to this. HACKER DES PLACES won on his second start in the French Provinces in June. He has a penalty to carry but Bryan Carver’s claim takes care of most of that so he’s preferred to Viroflay, who will need to settle better than when a well-beaten favourite at Kempton last week. Calidus Mirabilis has already run five times over timber so lacks a bit of scope.
Hacker Des Places (FR) (0-0) won at Dax 2m 1f sft in Jun beating Heloi (0-0) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Calidus Mirabilis 7-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden in 3rd when mistake 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 9, 21 1/4l behind Dutch Admiral (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Sep.
Derek Le Grand 11-2 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden before 3 out, slow leap 3 out, tailed off when wandered approaching 2 out, no extra, 6th of 9, 30 1/4l behind Orchestral Rain (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Iron Heart 2-5fav (9-2) Disputed lead until led after 2f, pushed along over 2f out, ridden out, won at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp (4) fm in Aug beating Gentleman At Arms (9-3) by 3/4l, 2 ran.
Shutupshirley Saddler's Rock gelding out of Ede'iff.
Viroflay (FR) 13-8fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 8, 23 1/2l behind Overpriced Mixer (10-12) at Kempton 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Mazikeen 14-1 (9-1) Raced wide tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 11, 6 3/4l behind Red For All (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Oct.