tracked leader, effort when hit 2 out, shaken up between last 2, led last, pushed clear flat, easily
led, ridden when pressed before 2 out, headed last, no chance with easy winner in clear 2nd flat
in rear, went remote 3rd when ridden after 4th, never any chance with front pair, tailed off
chased clear pair until ridden and dropped to remote 4th after 4th, soon tailed off, eventually completed
This looks a straight fight between the two previous winners as it's hard to fancy the Jonathan Geake pair Fidelity and Prince Of Cardamom, who were both tailed off behind Chic Name over track and trip two weeks ago. SCEAU ROYAL and Winterfell are both French imports. The latter made most to score at Fontainebleu in September and has since joined Dan Skelton but Alan King's charge is one with the form already in the book. He won at Chepstow before running Leoncavallo to a nose in a Listed race at Wetherby and should be hard to beat.
Sceau Royal (FR) 5-2fav (11-6) Tracked winner, led narrowly 5th and maintained steady pace until quickened 3 out, stayed on gamely run-in, headed post, 2nd of 5, shd behind Leoncavallo (11-6) at Wetherby 2m lst (1) sft in Oct.
Winterfell (FR) (10-5) won at Fontainebleau 2m 2f mdn sft in Sep beating Colonel D'aumont (10-5) by 5l, 12 ran.
Fidelity 100-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, behind 5th, tailed off, 9th of 12, dist behind Chic Name (10-12) at Warwick 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Prince Of Cardamom (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, jumped slowly 3rd, weakened after 5th, tailed off, 11th of 12, dist behind Chic Name (10-12) at Warwick 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
