held up, headway 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, pushed along after 7th, hit 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, one pace from next, went 3rd last, no impression
held up in touch, took closer order 5th, weakened from 4 out
held up in touch, went 2nd 4 out, ridden last, kept on towards finish
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place approaching 7th
led, headed 5th, hit 3 out, soon ridden and weakened last
with leader, led 5th, ridden last, kept on well
Brooklyn Breeze is interesting on his reappearance back over hurdles but Len Lungo's gelding faces no easy task giving weight away all round and preference is for Katmandu, who gets the vote over Gracilis. The last mentioned should strip fitter for a recent spin on the level and with improvement to come over hurdles after just three runs is hard to ignore. Caesar's Palace, from the in-form Lucinda Russell stable, has only gone up 2lbs for his win at Aintree last month and has to be respected along with Lazy But Lively, a winner at Uttoxeter over fences when last seen. Nicky Richards complicates matters by saddling two runners, Bob's Gone and Lord Jack, although neither looks to have an obvious chance and more solid claims are held by Snowy. Alistair Charlton's gelding has to race off a 6lb higher mark than when scoring at Kelso on his reappearance last month and with improvement to come, has solid claims. The vote though goes to Katmandu. Howard Johnson's lost no caste in defeat behind Powder Creek in a decent novices' hurdle at Wetherby in April when last seen and the son of Sadler's Wells looks well treated on his handicap debut. Fitness should not be a problem for the five-year-old as the stable's horses have been in good form and Katmandu is taken to make a winning return.
