held up towards rear, headway on inside after 3 out, led approaching next, driven 3 lengths clear when went left last, soon ridden and hard pressed, headed closing stages
held up in rear, not fluent 4 out, outpaced next, ridden before 2 out, never a threat
tracked clear leader, close up 4th, ridden and lost place before 2 out, no chance with front trio between last 2, lost modest 4th flat
held up in touch in main group, close up 4th, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened
in touch min group, close up 4th, lost place when ridden after 3 out, soon behind, weakened 2 out
led, allowed clear lead to 4th, headed approaching 2 out, ridden and outpaced by front pair between last 2, well held in 3rd after
travelled well, in touch in main group, headway on outside when pecked 3 out, challenged before next, ridden and one pace between last 2, 3 lengths down last, stayed on well to lead closing stages
in touch main group, driven after 3 out, ridden and lost place before next, stayed on to take modest 4th flat
Ulysses was highly tried after finishing second in a Fakenham seller at the start of the year but lacks a recent run. Thistimenextyear and Alcanar have both been running on the Flat, however, so should be in the firing-line. Malangen was beaten when falling at Market Rasen while Vlannon was pulled up last time at Fontwell. SHAW’S CROSS was beaten 10 lengths when second over 2m3f at Fontwell on his first run for Paul Henderson but was travelling strongly at this trip and any improvement should make him tough to beat. My Brother has been getting closer but has been done no favours by a further 4lb rise.
Thistimenextyear 3-1fav (8-7) Tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, lost 2nd and one pace in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Dukhan (8-6) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
My Brother (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Mid-division, chased leaders 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 20, 1 1/4l behind Red Hot Chilly (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Alcanar (USA) 8-1 (9-6) Towards rear, headway into mid-division on outside over 6f out, ridden over 3f out, never reached leaders, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 13, 15 1/2l behind Unblinking (9-7) at Kempton 2m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Primal Focus (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 8, 15 3/4l behind Watcombe Heights (11-8) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Ulysses (GER) 7-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, hit 3rd, led next, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened rapidly, behind when stumbled badly 2 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Mister Chow (11-9) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Kestrel Valley 11-1 (10-5) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden and no impression from 2 out, 4th of 7, 9 1/4l behind Dinos Benefit (10-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) sft in Mar.
Shaw's Cross (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders in 3rd 3 out, left modest 2nd at the last, hung right run-in, 2nd of 14, 10l behind Bonza Girl (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Malangen (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Led, veered right into 1st, wandered and veered into 2nd, soon went clear, headed after 2 out, 4th and weakening when fell last, at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) gf in Nov.
Vlannon 7-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pulled up quickly soon after 3 out, at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gs in Nov.
