keen in mid-division, headway over 3f out, travelling well but edging left when switched right 2f out, edged left and one pace in 4th inside final furlong
held up off the pace in last pair, headway near side over 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, run flattened out inside final furlong
difficult loading, mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened hung left and behind
pulled hard chasing leaders on outside, pushed along 3f out, weakened rapidly over 2f out, soon behind
soon chasing leader at good pace, pushed along 3f out, weakened approaching final 2f
held up off the pace in last pair, no impression when hung left over 1f out
always towards rear, never involved
pushed along from wide draw to lead and set strong pace, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened quickly, soon behind
held up towards rear, making headway when hampered 2f out, rallied over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, never going pace to threaten
mid-division on inside, driven along chasing leaders over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in 6th, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, led 2f out until ridden and narrowly headed over 1f out, rallied to press winner and every chance throughout final furlong, lost 2nd final strides
held up in 7th, pushed along 3f out, headway over 2f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden to challenge towards inside over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong
chased ledaers, pushed along and every chance over 2f out, ridden and weakened well over 1f out
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, went 2nd last strides, not reach winner
held up towards rear, headway when not clear run and switched left over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders in 5th, travelling well 2f out, led narrowly over 1f out, ridden and strongly pressed throughout final furlong, held on gamely
pushed along and struggling towards rear over 3f out, never a factor
Just one joint favourite has won this in nine years though the winner is generally well supported. Homage and Alfred Hutchinson are the only course and distance winners in the line-up and the former makes his comeback after winning a tough handicap from 5lb lower here in October. Off Art ran a fine race in the Thirsk Hunt Cup, his first start since the same race last year, so he has to be considered along with Abseil, who lost his way a little after looking potentially useful at this time a year ago. Gabrial had stablemate Loving Spirit behind at Leicester in October but the latter made an encouraging comeback in the Spring Cup at Newbury and could turn the tables. There are plenty of others with chances but the vote goes to the veteran PRINCE OF JOHANNE, who hasn't won for almost two years but ran well last season and has now dropped to his lowest mark since landing the 2011 Cambridgeshire.
Gabrial (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) In rear, headway over 1f out, ridden entering final furlong, no extra towards finish, 4th of 5, 1 3/4l behind Maverick Wave (9-0) at Chester 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) sft.
Ascription (IRE) 7-2fav (9-10) Towards rear of mid-division, driven over 2f out, never on terms, 14th of 17, 8l behind Heaven's Guest (8-13) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gs in Oct '13.
Chookie Royale 16-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 8l behind Astaire (9-6) at Newmarket 6f Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Cordite (IRE) 14-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden inside final furlong, no extra, 8th of 13, 7l behind Emell (9-5) at Haydock 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Apr.
Capo Rosso (IRE) 14-1 (9-8) Led, ridden over 1f out, kept on and headed last 75 yards, 2nd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Wilde Inspiration (8-10) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Apr.
Loving Spirit 9-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden and hung left over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 22, 3 1/2l behind Ayaar (8-9) at Newbury 1m hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Homage (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at York 1m hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct beating Spirit Of The Law (8-6) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Balducci 20-1 (9-5) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened and eased final furlong, last of 15, 19l behind Homage (9-0) at York 1m hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Nakuti (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, no impression final furlong, 5th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Coulsty (9-3) at Leicester 7f Listed stks (1) gf in Apr.
Prince Of Johanne (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Always behind, 14th of 15, 21l behind Wilde Inspiration (8-10) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Apr.
Abseil (USA) 25-1 (8-10) Raced far side, took keen hold, led group for 2f, soon settled in 3rd, pushed along over 3f out, soon lost place quickly, behind and eased final 2f, 23rd of 27, 42l behind Bronze Angel (9-2) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Off Art 11-2fav (9-1) In rear, headway 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on well to take 2nd place towards finish, 2nd of 18, 2l behind Sound Advice (8-9) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Fort Bastion (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, one pace and no impression, 11th of 18, 6l behind Sound Advice (8-9) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Hit The Jackpot (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Close up, led 3f out, headed last 100 yards, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 5l behind Chancery (9-1) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Apr.
You're Fired (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway 2f out, led 1f out, driven out final furlong, stayed on well, won at Ripon 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Apr beating Dubai Dynamo (9-1) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Merry Me (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Chased leader, led over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Lady Tiana (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 2f fll lst stks (1) hvy in Nov.
Alfred Hutchinson 8-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 6l behind Emell (9-5) at Haydock 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Apr.
Yourartisonfire 6-1fav (8-13) Prominent, went 2nd over 1f out, weakened towards finish, 5th of 15, 2 3/4l behind Wilde Inspiration (8-10) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Apr.
