chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to chase winner approaching last, one pace under pressure
led, headed 2 out, weakened flat
in touch, headway 6th, led 2 out, pushed out
towards rear never dangerous
chased leaders, reminders halfway, ridden and lost place 7th, kept on flat
pulled hard in rear, headway 4th to track leaders, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, hit 5th, reminders and pushed along 7th, headway 3 out, effort 2 out, one pace under pressure
in touch until weakened 7th
Monte Rosa gets the confident vote here with Hernando's Boy and Iris's Prince rating the main dangers. The selection is one of the least exposed in the field has bags of scope for improvement and won well last time out when beating Master Sebastian. Granted she has a penalty for that win but that is offset by her mares allowance and under her optimum conditions she is impossible to oppose. Hernando's Boy rates the main danger as he was a fair fifth in a better race last time out behind Calomeria. However he looks more exposed than the selection and for that reason he is passed over. Iris's Prince has place claims on his best form but he was very disappointing last time out for no apparent reason so he can not be put forward with any confidence. Lord Rodney won well when making all a couple of runs ago but has since disappointed. However if he were allowed an easy lead he would be a danger to all. Of the remainder Opal's Helmsman has shown a modicum of ability but needs to improve dramatical to trouble the principals and for the winner we return to Monte Rosa .
Iris's Prince 7-1 Held up in touch, pushed along approaching 7th, weakened after 8th and pulled up in race won by Rogues Gallery at Wetherby 2m 7f nov hdl (E) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Lord Rodney (IRE) 5-1 Led, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Bellaney Jewel at Hexham 3m nh nov hdl (E) gs, 10 ran.
Hernando's Boy 7-2 Mid-division, headway 6th, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and every chance when blundered 2 out, no extra from last, 5th of 11, 8l behind Calomeria at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (A) gs in Oct.
Jockie Wells 12-1 fell in race won by Dun Rose at Kelso 3m 1f mdn hts chs (H) gs, 9 ran.
Opal's Helmsman (USA) 50-1 Held up in rear, headway 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 4th of 19, 1l behind Jordan's Ridge at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs.
Venturemore 300-1 Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous, 7th of 9, well behind Napolitain at Perth 2m nov hdl (C) sft.
Monte Rosa (IRE) 2-1fav Mid-division, headway 2 out, stayed on to lead over 2f out, soon ridden, ran on, won at Kelso 2m nov hdl (E) sft in Nov beating Master Sebastian by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Parisian Rose (IRE) 50-1 Close up, every chance 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 18, well behind Allegedly So at Hexham 2m nhf (H) gs.