prominent, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead final 100 yards, kept on well
towards rear, headway 5th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened flat
tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, headed final 100 yards, soon no extra
mid-division, hung left after 2 out, ridden approaching last, no impression
tracked leaders, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up in mid-division on inner, lost place approaching 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, ridden approaching last, weakened final 100 yards
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on to take 3rd close home
prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, edged right soon after, soon weakened
held up towards rear, never dangerous
held up towards, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, effort 3 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 4 out, ridden approaching next, soon weakened
mid-division, weakened after 4 out
held up towards rear, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on inner approaching 3 out, kept on from next
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear,headway after 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on same pace
NAMPOUR is the most tentative of suggestions in a tough race to call, with the main dangers seen as Dee Ee Williams, Thumbs Up, Veiled Applause and Leslingtaylor. With the slight worry that he might now be high enough in the weights, the selection has won over this course and distance and should love the ground conditions this afternoon. Giles Hawkins knows him well and the horse has probably been aimed at this race for some time. Issaquah won well last time but has been hit hard by the handicapper, Dee Ee Williams ran a blinder last time out at Cheltenham in third, whilst Ghizao is not a novice to take lightly but may find this test too much at this stage of his development. Caravel likes quick ground and a speedy track so is not dismissed lightly, along with Zanir who ran well at Cheltenham last time out. Arctic Wings and Nearby clashed recently and each looks an interesting contender off their light weights, but a bigger threat may be John Quinn. He has three likely contenders in action here, including the progressive novice Ballybriggan, the unexposed flat recruit Veiled Applause and the more experienced Leslingtaylor. Thumbs Up can still win races off this mark, Magnum Force is progressing well but this is a step up in grade, whilst Grandad Bill's Musselburgh form is working out very nicely. As competitive as you'd expect, but preference is for Nampour.
Dee Ee Williams (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Tracked clear leader, close up 5th, led before 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, kept on same pace, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 28, 4 1/2l behind Thousand Stars (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Ghizao (GER) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division on outside, headway 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 12th of 17, well behind Peddlers Cross (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Issaquah (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Made all, jumped left 1st, ridden clear after last, ran on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Mar beating Irish Symphony (10-2) by 6l, 7 ran.
Nampour (FR) 33-1 (9-11) Behind, mistake and reminders 7th, soon struggling, tailed off 3 out, 14th of 17, well behind Mamlook (10-1) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Stravinsky Dance 50-1 (11-5) Led, soon clear, headed and weakened after 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Quevega (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Mar, 17 ran.
Caravel (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 3 out, effort and every chance next, weakened last, 9th of 23, 29l behind Qaspal (10-3) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs in Mar.
Zanir (FR) 50-1 (10-6) Held up in mid-division, headway 3 out, challenged going well between last 2, every chance last, ridden and one pace flat, 4th of 28, 6l behind Thousand Stars (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, weakening when hampered 3 out, 9th of 15, 42l behind Watch My Back (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec.
Gus Macrae (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Mid-division, driven and outpaced approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 11th of 17, well behind Peddlers Cross (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Thumbs Up 7-2 (11-11) Raced keenly, held up behind, not fluent 4th, smooth headway after 4 out, chased leading pair before next, ridden and effort 2 out, went 3 lengths down in 2nd last, no impression, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Sir Tantallus Hawk (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Palomar (USA) 3-1 (11-8) Held up, towards rear and keen, headway 3 out, ridden next, went 3rd from last, no impression, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Caravel (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
European Dream (IRE) 50-1 (10-6) Always behind, 26th of 28, 42l behind Thousand Stars (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Magnum Force (IRE) 4-9fav (11-5) Held up in touch, smooth headway approaching 2 out, led going well last, soon clear, easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May beating Rolecarr (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Rookery Rebel (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Raced in 3rd, led travelling strongly approaching 3 out, just starting to be niggled with slight advantage and every chance when fell heavily 2 out, in a race won by Earth And Sky (11-5) at Down Royal 2m beg chase gd in Mar, 9 ran.
Black Coffee 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden going to 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Johnny Mullen (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Grandad Bill (IRE) 15-2 (11-8) Always close up, led after 4 out, stayed on under pressure, driven out, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Feb beating Simple Jim (10-11) by nk, 12 ran.
Veiled Applause 10-3 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 3rd approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next, 3rd of 15, 10l behind The Knoxs (10-7) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Nortonthorpe Lad (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Led until 1st, prominent, chased winner 5th until next, soon outpaced, hampered 3 out, jumped right 2 out, staying on same pace when jumped right and mistake last, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 36l behind Marodima (10-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Ballybriggan (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, challenged when hit last, hard ridden flat, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Mar beating Pearlysteps (11-5) by nk, 6 ran.
Dantari (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, weakened 7th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out, in a race won by Mr Thriller (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 4f listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Oct, 14 ran.
Nearby 11-4fav (10-2) In touch, headway from 4th, chased leaders 4 out, challenged soon after 3 out, tracked leader going well next, led before last, hard ridden and kept on when pressed soon after, caught on line, 2nd of 9, shd behind Arctic Wings (10-1) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 13-2 (10-1) Held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, 3rd and plenty to do before last, strong run on stands side rail final 110 yards, led on line, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar beating Nearby (10-2) by shd, 9 ran.
