took keen hold, mid-division, headway on inside 6th, led 2 out, ridden and edged right last, edged right flat, all out
held up in rear, some headway after 6th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, mistake 2 out
prominent, hit 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 5th, 3rd and beaten when not fluent 2 out, no extra last
prominent, outpaced after 3 out, weakened approaching next, tailed off
towards rear, shaken up 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 4th, lost place 6th, weakened 3 out
led, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, every chance last, switched left flat, just held
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
With the weights compacted, Absinthe's task isn't as stiff as it first appears as the handicapper hasn't over-reacted to his novice wins and he scored with a bit in hand on the Flat at Chester nine days ago. James Pollard is likely to struggle off his new mark, however, while Kykate may not have beaten much at Hexham and prefers a softer surface, though William Kinsey does well with his small string. Laudatory was well ridden by Andrew Tinkler to score at Stratford but is 6lb higher here while George Woolf ran a lifeless race at Newton Abbot last month. HENRY SAN is lightly-raced and had a nice pipe-opener on the Flat last month. We'll take a chance that he'll improve for the better ground here and give him a tentative vote, though it would be no surprise to see Rebel Dancer and Vimiero also in the firing-line.
Absinthe (IRE) 1-5fav (11-3) Made all, took keen hold, quickened clear from 3 out, easily, won at Wetherby 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd in Mar beating Stagecoach Jasper (10-11) by 13l, 4 ran.
James Pollard (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Took keen hold tracked leaders, hit 2nd, went 2nd 4 out, switched left 2 out, soon challenging under pressure, led soon after last, ran on, ridden out, won at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr beating Rajamand (11-12) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Kykate 7-4fav (11-5) Held up mid-division, went 2nd before 2 out, led before last, ridden flat, idled final 150 yards, driven out, won at Hexham 2m mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft beating Leith Walk (11-3) by ns, 6 ran.
Henry San (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, progress on inside 4 out, ridden before 3 out, hit 3 out and weakened, 8th of 11, well behind Charm School (11-7) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
Sambulando (FR) 14-1 (10-5) In touch, jumped slowly and lost place 4th, well behind when blundered 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 13, well behind Anquetta (10-3) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Feb '11.
Vimiero (USA) 15-8fav (11-1) Mid-division, headway when not fluent 5th, ridden when not fluent 2 out, no extra last, 5th of 15, 12l behind Sonoran Sands (10-2) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
George Woolf 8-1 (11-8) Chased leaders on inside, ridden and weakening when not fluent 6th, soon behind, 7th of 11, 49l behind Cinevator (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Cavite Eta (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 2nd, headed next, pushed along and weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Grandioso (11-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
The Tiddly Tadpole 7-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led before 3 out until after 2 out, mistake and weakened last, 5th of 10, 19l behind Viva Colonia (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Aug.
Rampant Ronnie (USA) 40-1 (10-13) Chased leaders to 4th, behind fom 6th, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Laudatory (10-0) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Rebel Dancer (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, took closer order 3rd, led 5th, headed before 3 out, chased winner 2 out, ridden before last, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Jubail (11-10) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
Laudatory 5-1 (10-0) In touch, headway after 3 out, challenged on inside next, soon ridden, led last, held on under pressure flat, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar beating Knight In Purple (10-11) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Educated Son 14-1 (11-5) Held up last, blundered 5th, beaten and tailed off when went right 2 out, 5th of 6, 34l behind Colebrooke (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Jan.
