tracked leader, lost place 4 out, went 2nd next, ridden to challenge and every chance between last 2, kept on, not pace of winner flat
held up in rear, headway towards stands side rail 3 out, challenged next, soon ridden, hung left and led narrowly last, headed flat, no extra in 3rd closing stages
held up in touch, pushed along after 4 out, never pace to get on terms, weakened after 2 out
held up in touch, outpaced before 3 out, soon ridden, rallied between last 2, stayed on to lead flat, ran on
led, ridden and hard pressed between last 2, headed last, no extra in 4th flat
in touch on outside, effort 3 out, ridden and outpaced after next, no impression before last
tracked leader, driven and lost place when hit 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression before last
Chieftain's Choice made all and never looked like being caught here two weeks ago but is unlikely to get as much leeway from these much better field. Cliffs Of Dover started favourite at Haydock following a successful Flat campaign but was soon in trouble. Solomon Grey hasn’t run since February but is comparatively unexposed. Equus Amadeus was in good form earlier this year but it’s more difficult to make a case for the four-year-olds Cubswin and Zoffany Bay. IRISH ROE is 10lb higher than when winning this last year but Peter Atkinson’s talented mare has plenty in her favour again and wouldn’t have been suited by Cheltenham last time.
Irish Roe (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Held up behind on outside, fell last (usual 2 out), at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Cliffs Of Dover 4-1jfav (11-4) Keen in rear, headway on outside before 5th, weakened after 4 out, 8th of 11, 27 1/4l behind Black Mischief (11-0) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Solomon Grey (FR) 9-4fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon pressed leader, led narrowly next, 2 lengths clear last, ridden and edged left under pressure flat, hard pressed towards finish, just held on, all out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Oxford Blu (10-12) by nk, 10 ran.
Equus Amadeus (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, driven and lost place when short of room after last (usual 2 out), soon weakened, 13th of 18, 17 1/4l behind Nietzsche (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Chieftain's Choice (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Made all, clear approaching 2 out, unchallenged, won at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (3) gf in Dec beating Mister Universum (11-12) by 8l, 6 ran.
Cubswin (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, lost place before last, weakened flat, 6th of 8, 16l behind Snapdragon Fire (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Zoffany Bay (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, chased clear leader 2 out, every chance when blundered last, not recover, 6th of 11, 10 1/2l behind William H Bonney (11-12) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
