mid-division, headway after 8th, close 4th 2 out, weakened flat
chased clear leader until 6th, remained prominent in main group, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, hampered 5th, never dangerous
towards rear, headway 8th, soon ridden, chasing leaders 3 out, weakened after 2 out
mid-division, mistakes 4th and 5th, soon towards rear, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd 6th until 8th, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on flat
always behind, tailed off
chased leaders, hit 4th, lost place 6th, in rear when jumped left 8th, tailed off
in touch until ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway after next, went 2nd 8th, every chance approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
hampered 5th, always in rear
mid-division, bumped on inside after 7th, ridden next, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner next, every chance last, stayed on same pace flat
took keen hold, not fluent, led and soon clear, hit 8th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway 8th, led approaching 3 out, edged left before last, edged left and stayed on well flat
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, chased winner 3 out until 2 out, stayed on same pace last
held up in rear, hampered 5th, headway 3 out, stayed on well to take 2nd flat
Nonrunner
The chances of going home happy are greatly reduced with 19 runners going to post for the last but maybe FORGET IT can go in again ahead of Willandrich and Astracad. The selection landed a nice touch on his latest start when winning readily at Fontwell. He won well but the money was very interesting suggesting there is more to come. The handicapper may not have him yet and his form seems reasonable as he beat Bolton Hall who is a useful yard stick. Willandrich is looking for a four timer and he really seems to be on the up. He has paid the price for winning as he has shot up the handicap but we feel he will be competitive once more. Astracad is only a four-year-old but won very nicely on his last start. He is well in at the weights but as a rule we don't like such young horses in big fields against the older brigade. Tabaran and Pure Faith should also be monitored but Forget It can hopefully send us home happy.
To Arms 7-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 6th, challenged 3 out, switched right after next, still every chance when not fluent last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Al Co (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
Still At Lunch (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Led to 3rd, chased leader until after 2 out, weakened and mistake last, 6th of 11, 16l behind Spirit River (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Cassius (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked winner, weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 15l behind Hazeldene (10-1) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Share Option 8-1 (11-1) Behind, good headway 6th, chased winner after 3 out, disputing 2 lengths down in 2nd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Corker (10-8) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Moment Present (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear and off the pace, under pressure 4 out, weakened before next, 7th of 10, 32l behind Ameeq (11-4) at Ascot 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Tabaran (FR) 4-1fav (11-11) In touch, led 7th, headed 3 out, not much room 2 out, switched left, stayed on same pace last, 2nd of 13, 7l behind Valento (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Apr.
Option Money (IRE) 8-11fav (10-9) Led to 7th, led again after next, not fluent 12th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon hung right, hung right again and led flat, driven out, won at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (4) gf in Apr '09 beating Toni Alcala (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 3 ran.
Peters Star (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Led, jumped slowly 2nd, headed before next, soon given reminders and last, lost touch approaching 5th, tailed off when mistake 7th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Federstar (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Apr, 6 ran.
Word of Warning 12-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 4th, went 4th approaching 2 out, one pace, 4th of 12, 13l behind Sure Josie Sure (11-7) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Mumbles Pier (IRE) 9-2fav (11-8) Not fluent, led until 3rd, led after 5th until before 3 out, led after 3 out until headed approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 16, 14l behind I'm In The Pink (11-3) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Forget It 5-2fav (11-2) Took keen hold early, held up in 5th, headway to track leading pair 6th, led 2 out, ridden before last, hung right and idled flat, just held on, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr beating Bolton Hall (10-13) by ns, 6 ran.
Simple Jim (FR) 18-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, mistake and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Sivota (10-11) at Punchestown 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (8Evens23) (4yo+) gd in Apr, 24 ran.
E Major 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 5th, joined 3out, soon ridden, headed approaching last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Woodlark Island (10-7) at Fakenham 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Pure Faith (IRE) 9-4 (11-10) Prominent, not fluent 1st, led approaching 6th, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 24l behind Exulto (11-4) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Ouste (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Jumped moderately, held up in touch, mistake 1st, blundered 7th and 9th, headway to chase winner 10th, weakened before 4 out, fell heavily 3 out, in a race won by Soulard (11-12) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Astracad (FR) 3-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway to track leaders 6th, went 2nd after 3 out, led before next, 9 lengths clear when jinked left last, ridden clear, eased towards finish, easily, won at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr beating Victory Surge (11-3) by 18l, 8 ran.
Extreme Conviction (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, every chance 2 out, soon led, ran on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr beating Wee Ziggy (9-8) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Baaher (USA) 6-1 (10-7) Held up behind, headway 2 out, ridden last, stayed on well under pressure to go 2nd final 75 yards, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 16l behind Lightening Rod (11-9) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Willandrich (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Held up mid-division, ridden 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead last 50 yards, won at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar beating Art Exhibition (11-9) by 1l, 9 ran.
