chased leader until 7th, prominent, stumbled badly 9th, weakened after 3 out
always in rear, tailed off
led, hit 9th, headed 3 out, stayed in 3rd, hit 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure flat
towards rear, headway 12th, weakened 3 out
towards rear, headway 13th, soon ridden, weakened before 4 out
raced wide, close up until lost place 14th, stayed on again from 2 out, kept on well flat
in touch, smooth headway to chase leaders 13th, chased winner 3 out, every chance when went right 2 out, still chance when not fluent last, styed on same pace flat
chased leaders until blundered and unseated rider 3rd
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, ridden 3 out, stayed on before last, kept on flat
raced wide towards rear, ridden 10th, headway to chase leaders 4 out, stumbled 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
held up in rear, headway 12th, chased leaders 4 out, led 3 out, pressed from 2 out, driven and stayed on well flat
chased leaders, pushed along and lost place after 11th, no danger and towards rear after
The first race of the Open meeting can go to Peter Bowen's QUATTROCENTO, taken to confirm previous course form with Swing Bill. The latter is 9lbs better off with our selection for a six-length beating but he appeared laboured at Exeter and has something to prove off the same rating. In contrast, Quattrocento arrives here fresh and well on the back of that course victory and it's perhaps significant that he ran well on his only other start here, while it's also a benefit that this rider was aboard that day. Knowhere is another who knows his way around here but one wonders whether time is catching up with the 12-year-old, so those seeking to oppose our pick are best advised to focus on the younger pair Earth Planet and Theatrical Moment. The latter can be forgiven a below-par run in the Scottish National and represents an in-form yard while Earth Planet is nicely treated but needs to jump with more zest to score in a competitive handicap like this one.
Richard's Sundance (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Led, driven approaching 4 out, headed before next, soon ridden and rallied, weakened last, 3rd of 4, 16l behind Song Sung Blue (11-4) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f nov chs (3) hvy in Mar.
Theatrical Moment (USA) 9-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, weakened approaching 5 out, pulled before 3 out, in a race won by Merigo (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 30 ran.
Knowhere (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Mid-division, badly hampered 1st, blundered badly 6th, weakened approaching 15th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Ouzbeck (11-6) at Uttoxeter 3m 4f lstd hcp chs (1) gf in Jun, 18 ran.
Earth Planet (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, led approaching and going well when not fluent last, hung right run-in and headed, just held on for 2nd place close home, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Keel Road (10-8) at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) sft in Oct.
Martys Mission (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Behind, headway 19th, weakened from 3 out, 8th of 19, well behind Church Island (10-5) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Qhilimar (FR) 12-1 (9-11) Mid-division, never dangerous, 13th of 27, well behind Always Waining (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Apr.
Swing Bill (FR) 9-2 (11-12) With leader, led after 7th until 12th, led 14th until approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 34l behind Iconoclast (11-8) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Cornish Sett (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) In touch, hampered by loose horse 6th, outpaced when hampered 4 out, weakened from next, 7th of 13, 37l behind Alderburn (11-3) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Oct.
Noun De La Thinte (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, lost place after 5th, behind 7th, 6th of 8, well behind Malindi Bay (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Oct.
Quattrocento (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 15th, led after 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct beating Swing Bill (11-9) by 6l, 18 ran.
Rustarix (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Hit 1st, mid-division, unseated rider 15th, in a race won by Scots Dragoon (11-12) at Sandown 3m am chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Notabotheronme (IRE) 9-1 (10-2) Towards rear, reminders after 5th, jumped slowly 13th, behind when blundered 5 out, 12th of 14, well behind Burren Legend (10-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Mar.
