mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased winner 1f out, edged left and kept on towards finish
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway 6f out, ridden over 3f out, well held from over 2f out
slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden 3f out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, ridden over 4f out, soon behind
prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong
in touch in mid-division, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in touch, went 3rd over 3f out, chased winner briefly over 1f out, stayed on same pace
prominent, led 3f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, held on well
slowly ino stride and driven start, always towards rear
led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened inside final furlong
Nonrunner
ROYAL MAX is well handicapped on both his hurdles form and old flat form and therefore looks hard to oppose. Ian Williams has his string in fine form as this one showed when winning a competitive handicap hurdle at Wetherby last time. Presumably being kept fit while he waits for the decent ground over jumps he'll be ready to go and having placed off marks in the 50s when last seen on the level is very well weighted. Mediterranean Sea cantered through the race on his way to second at Southwell and a return to this surface may help him to see it out so he's the chief threat ahead of Eagle Nebula, for whom this trip is a shade on the sharp side. Tres Froide finished last the only previous time she tried this distance but looks worth another crack at it following a never-nearer second to an improving type over 9f here recently and she completes the shortlist.
Eagle Nebula 5-1 (9-4) Held up in 6th, headway 3f out, went 3rd over 2f out, chased leader inside final furlong, soon upsides and every chance until not pace of winner final 110 yards, kept on as winner idled, 2nd of 7, nk behind Blackmore (8-11) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Black Coffee 33-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, chased leaders on outer 6f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 15, 6l behind Kenyan Cat (10-5) at Warwick 1m 3f am hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Sep.
Sumner (IRE) 14-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, effort over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 14, 26l behind Danvilla (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Fine Tolerance 10-1 (9-3) Slowly away, in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Paint The Town Red (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.
Little Richard (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, never troubled leaders, 7th of 12, 5l behind Straversjoy (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (0-65) (6) pol.
Frameit (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Held up, ridden 4f out, headway 2f out, kept on one pace, not trouble leaders, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Dart (9-8) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Tres Froide (FR) 22-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, going well when switched right to outside 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to 2nd well inside final furlong,, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Querido (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Abulharith 16-1 (9-5) Tracked winner until halfway, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 12, 32l behind Kingaroo (8-5) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (6) fbs.
Given A Choice (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 9l behind Prickles (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Royal Max (IRE) 16-1 (8-3) Tracked leader, lost touch 7f out, 11th of 13, 32l behind Bivouac (9-0) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Feb.
Mediterranean Sea (IRE) 7-2fav (9-12) Held up, smooth headway to track leaders over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Jezza (9-3) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Quince (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Dwelt, held up, never a factor, 10th of 12, 31l behind Court Wing (8-5) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp (6) hvy in Oct.
