tracked leaders, bumped 1st, hampered 9th, challenged 4 out until before 2 out, 4th and fading last
jumped right, led, not fluent 8th, headed after 2 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on
pressed leader, hit rail on bend after 3rd, mistake 9th, lost 2nd before next, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, headway from 4 out, ridden and beaten before hitting 2 out
mid-division, mistake 7th, well beaten after 3 out
mid-division and wide, towards rear when slow 6th, soon racing awkwardly and hanging left, tailed off 4 out, pulled up after next
chased leaders, stumbled on bend after 3rd, mistake 9th, weakened before 3 out
always towards rear
held up in rear, headway from 3 out, not much room briefly after 2 out, pressing for 2nd flat, no impression on winner, no extra near finish
towards rear, stayed on from 2 out, never involved
tracked leaders, jumped right 1st, lost place 5th, closed 3 out, one pace next
mid-division, headway on inside 6th, challenged 2 out, soon led, went left and mistake last, clear flat, stayed on well
Mount Vesuvius has been thereabouts off this sort of mark lately and must have every chance of finally getting his head back in front. Roparta Avenue has only won one of his 21 starts, however, and that was over fences. Fraser Canyon is still a maiden but was second over a shorter trip here last year and is reunited with the champion jockey. HOW’S MY FRIEND in in the veteran stages now and last ran over hurdles in 2011 but he’s not badly treated on his chase form and will stay every inch of this trip so gets a tentative vote.
Fraser Canyon 9-2fav (11-12) Chased leaders, outpaced before 3 out, plugged on into modest 3rd between last 2, 3rd of 10, 15 1/4l behind Phar Away Island (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Herdswick Holloa (IRE) 9-1 (11-13) Held up towards rear, ridden and outpaced 3 out, plugged on to go moderate 4th, 4th of 8, 26 1/4l behind Peal Of Bells (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Royale Champ (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up, soon well off the pace in last, went remote 3rd 3 out, never any chance with front pair, tailed off, 3rd of 4, dist behind Ms Parfois (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) gs in Mar.
Ali Bin Nayef 16-1 (10-9) Soon mid-division, 10th from 5th, closed from before straight, one pace from 2 out, 10th of 18, 24 1/2l behind Granny Biddy (11-3) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp hvy in Sep.
Moonlight Flyer (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Raced wide towards rear, behind and struggling 6th, mistake and reminder next, plugged on into modest 4th close home, 4th of 9, 20l behind Brown Bear (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in May.
How's My Friend 8-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, chased winner next, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 2l behind How's Vienna (10-10) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Monty Massini 33-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, bumped 5th, well behind 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, dist behind Flashing Glance (10-12) at Stratford 2m (4) gs in Sep.
Flugzeug 20-1 (10-13) Last pair, ridden after 10th, hit 12th, behind next, pulled up before 14th, at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (5) gs in Sep.
Mount Vesuvius (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, headway on outside 8th, 3rd 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd flat, held by winner, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Zamoyski (11-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Beautiful People (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, blundered 3 out, soon outpaced, never a threat, 5th of 11, 30 3/4l behind Premier Rose (10-9) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Roparta Avenue 4-1 (10-9) In touch, pushed along before 5 out, went 2nd from 4 out, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Royals And Rebels (12-4) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (5) gf in May.
Ilewindelilah 16-1 (10-0) Towards rear, outpaced before 3 out, never a threat, 8th of 13, 30 1/2l behind Tamarillo Grove (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
