held up in rear, raced keenly, hit 4th, headway approaching 3 out, beaten when hit 2 out
in touch, raced keenly, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
set steay pace, ridden and headed when not fluent last, kept on towards finish
held up, raced keenly, steadied into last after 3rd, good headway after 3 out, ridden to lead last, idled near finish
pressed leader, lost 2nd approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up, jumped right and not fluent 1st, headway approaching 3 out, 2nd briefly before 2 out, no extra flat
prominent, raced keenly, not fluent 3rd or 5th, losing place when not much room on bend after 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, raced keenly, ridden and well beaten 3 out, tailed off
in touch, prominent after 3rd, blundered 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
Nonrunner
Celticello has been running consistently well of late and should again be thereabouts but Jamie Snowden's gelding looks a shade high in the weights and a better bet looks to be LATIN SCHOLAR, who gets the vote ahead of Danny Zuko. Don McCain's gelding was good value for his win at Haydock last month and he has claims on that evidence but was disappointing on a return visit to the same venue last time. Moonlight Music has been in good form but seems to now be in the grip of the handicapper, while Desert Lover is capable but inconsistent. Paul Webber's Star Shot is proving to be expensive to follow and a safer bet looks to be Latin Scholar. Alan King's gelding is unexposed over hurdles after just four starts so far and showed improved form for the step into a handicap for the first time when chasing home Fujin Dancer at Southwell last time and, with further improvement to come, he looks the one to beat.
Celticello (IRE) 7-4fav (11-1) Held up and always going well, headway 7th, led 3 out, hard ridden when headed close home, 2nd of 16, 1 1/4l behind Top Ram (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gd.
Star Shot (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, raced keenly, headway 5th, not much room after 8th, 5th and pushed along when blundered badly 2 out, not recover, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Tisfreetdream (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Moonlight Music (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) In touch, headway to track leaders 7th, under pressure and weakening when jumped left 2 out and last, 3rd of 12, 17l behind Qulinton (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Danny Zuko (IRE) 4-1 (9-10) Held up, hampered badly on bend after 6th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Quinz (10-8) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) gd, 11 ran.
Some Timbering (IRE) 50-1 (10-6) Held up, reminder after 4th, losing touch after 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Nice Try (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in May, 11 ran.
Latin Scholar (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, one pace, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Fujin Dancer (10-4) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Proper Article (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) In touch, went 3rd at 5th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 49l behind Joe Jo Star (11-8) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Desert Lover (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway when not fluent 6th, hanging right when weakened before 3 out, 6th of 14, 28l behind Markila (11-1) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Realism (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Always behind, last of 15, 22l behind Pontop (10-11) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
Pearson Glen (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 22l behind Karmadice (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
