took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, soon chasing leaders, disputing 2nd at the last, driven and stayed on run-in, finished well but not quite pace to challenge
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3rd, 2nd 3 out, led approaching 2 out until 2 out, chased winner, ridden disputing 2nd at the last, stayed on under pressure run-in,finished well, not quite pace to challenge
held up, headway chasing leaders 4th, challenged on outside to lead 2 out, stayed on gamely under pressure run-in
chased leaders, 2nd after 2nd until 3 out, chased leaders and every chance 2 out, ridden between last two, 4th when hit last, weakened run-in
chased leader until after 2nd, chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced before 2 out, kept on again run-in, no threat
chased leaders, weakened after 3 out
pulled up before 1st
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
led and soon clear, reduced lead 4th, headed before 2 out, weakekened after 2 out
always behind, struggling in rear after 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, kept on run-in, went never nearer 4th in closing stages
Ptit Zig won this in 2013 and the useful Lil Rockerfeller was successful last year so the form is usually worth following. Tommy Silver beat Ashoka by 11 lengths in a Listed race at Musselburgh in February before finding the company too hot in the Triumph Hurdle, though he still finished ahead of Big McIntosh. Voix Du Reve may well have won the Fred Winter at Cheltenham had he not crashed out at the last but a 5lb rise in the weights looks harsh. Duke Street was only ninth in the Fred Winter but impressed over further next time at Newbury. DAREBIN has had a mixed campaign but beat Duke Street on worse terms here in November and is well treated on that effort – he might be the value today.
Voix Du Reve (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, every chance when fell last, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Tommy Silver (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Held up behind, outpaced 2 out, stayed on into mid-division before last, ridden and kept on flat, never reached leaders, 7th of 15, 15 1/2l behind Ivanovich Gorbatov (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
Wolf Of Windlesham (IRE) 11-8fav (9-3) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, led inside final 2f, clear over 1f out, kept on strongly, won at Kempton 2m hcp (6) pol in Mar beating Jezza (9-6) by 5l, 9 ran.
Duke Street (IRE) 7-2fav (11-3) In touch, smooth headway approaching 3 out, led and hit 2 out, shaken up and clear last, edged right and stayed on strongly run-in, won at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Cobra De Mai (10-10) by 8l, 10 ran.
Doubly Clever (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 4 out, soon well behind, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 2m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Nabhan 2-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, driven to challenge 4 out, every chance from next, no extra after last, 3rd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Mere Anarchy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m (4) sft in Apr.
Ashoka (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Chased winner, not fluent 1st, no impression from 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 4, 11l behind Tommy Silver (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
Darebin (GER) 20-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, every chance next, no impression on winner last, 2nd of 7, 14l behind Disputed (10-7) at Plumpton 2m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Big McIntosh (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Led, headed after 3 out, soon lost place, behind from next, tailed off, last of 15, dist behind Ivanovich Gorbatov (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
Deebaj (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 10, 21 1/2l behind Duke Street (11-3) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Sikandar (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, slow 3rd and 4th, weakened before 3 out, last of 7, dist behind Bingo D'olivate (11-6) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
