held up in rear, headway on outside 5 out, went 2nd 2 out, driven and kept on same pace after, no chance with winner
made all, driven clear after 2 out, ridden out flat, stayed on well
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened before last, tailed off
mid-division, driven and lost place after 5 out, ridden after 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th before last, no chance with leaders
tracked winner, ridden and lost place after 3 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, not fluent 5 out, soon outpaced, no danger after, weakened 3 out
mid-division, chased leaders after 5 out, ridden after next, never on terms, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders on inside, ridden to chase winner after 3 out to next, no chance with front pair after
held up towards rear, not fluent 5 out, ridden after 3 out, never near leaders
This is a decent contest for the time of year with several holding strong claims. Mont Royale won this last year and that could be a guide to the chances of PLAY THE ACE, who beat that one at Stratford earlier in the month when showing good pace in the closing stages. He’s 5lb higher but in top form whereas a few of his rivals are returning from a break, including Mr Medic, Private Malone, Red Devil Star and Roll The Dough. Double Treasure and Going For Broke are both recent winners, however, and useful hurdler Call To Order can only improve on his fencing bow at Uttoxeter.
Marquis Of Carabas (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Held up, not fluent 5th, headway 10th, outpaced 3 out, 4th and no impression last, stayed on flat, went 3rd near finish, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Midnight Cowboy (11-13) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Double Treasure 5-1 (11-12) Always prominent, led after 3rd until next, led again 4 out, clear 2 out, edged left before last, stayed on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Innocent Girl (11-8) by 5l, 8 ran.
Fear Glic (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Led until after 2nd, chased leader, hit next, led again 6th, went right 8th, blundered next, headed 11th, chased leader until led again 3 out, headed and dropped to 3rd when fell 2 out, at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Going For Broke (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, ridden to lead run-in, kept on well, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Murray Mount (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Private Malone (IRE) 11-2 (11-13) Tracked leaders, jumped right 6th, mistake 12th, went 2nd after 2 out, stayed on same pace and no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 7 1/4l behind Ten Sixty (11-8) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Call To Order 7-2 (10-12) Took keen hold in last pair, not fluent 12th or when behind 14th, went 2nd from 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 19l behind Debdebdeb (10-10) at Uttoxeter 3m (3) gd in Sep.
Red Devil Star (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Never fluent, tracked leading trio, mistake 1st, jumped slowly 4th, outpaced after 3 out, plugging on when hampered and left 4th after 2 out, 4th of 5, 15l behind San Benedeto (11-12) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Roll The Dough (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Led until after 1st, prominent, weakened 3 out, 5th of 13, 29 3/4l behind Pobbles Bay (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Mr Medic 11-4fav (11-7) Chased leaders, effort when mistake and unseated rider 3 out, at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Play The Ace (IRE) 9-4 (10-6) Chased leaders, 2nd 8th until not fluent 11th, mistake 12th, 2nd again last bend, led last, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Mont Royale (11-9) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
