hampered, held up, ridden over 3f out, hung left, no impression
went right to start, led and keen, headed over 2f out, weakened
hampered, held up, headway over 4f out, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong
prominent, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened
in rear and hampered start, weakened 2f out
in touch, headway 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong and no extra
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Augustine gets the vote over Dove Cottage, Generous Lad, Olimpo and Montchara. Augustine has shaped well on each of his last two starts, at Beverley and Leicester, and looks primed for a good run here. Peter Hiatt's charge was a bit keen last time, but is well handicapped and is expected to give a good account. Dove Cottage was successful in this event last year, and in fact has won three of his four races at the Welsh track. There were excuses for his defeat on his Nottingham reappearance, as by all accounts he suffered a slight injury, but he is all set to go well now, despite being 5lb higher than 12-months ago. Generous Lad has been a model of consistency, and could well reach the frame again, while Olimpo was touched off in a close finish at Windsor and is on a retrieval mission. Montchara left the money in the bookies' satchels last time, and is another to add to the mix, and in an open affair, we look to Augustine as the answer.
Optimus (USA) 14-1 (9-0) Raced wide, held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, never a factor, 10th of 15, 9l behind Greek Well (9-3) at Sandown 1m 2f hcap (4) gd.
Coup d'Etat 7-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, effort over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 8l behind Hula Ballew (9-7) at Thirsk 1m hcap (5) gf.
Olimpo (FR) 8-1 (8-12) Held up in mid-division, headway over 1f out, chased winner and strong challenge inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 15, shd behind Ocean Avenue (9-4) at Windsor 1m 4f hcap (5) gf.
Dove Cottage (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon outpaced, 8th of 11, 9l behind Im Spartacus (8-13) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in May.
Augustine 11-8fav (8-13) Pulled hard, tracked leader, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, stayed on under pressure near finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Street Life (9-2) at Leicester 1m 2f hcap (5) sft in May.
Montchara (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (9-0) In touch, pushed along 4f out, weakened inside final 3f, 8th of 14, 8l behind Lady Songbird (8-9) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in May.
Oldrik (GER) 7-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, brief effort 3f out, 7th of 10, 10l behind Uig (8-5) at Chepstow 1m 2f hcap (5) gd in May.
Generous Lad (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (9-1) Chased leader, ridden over 2f out, soon led, headed inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Our Kes (8-8) at Bath 1m 2f hcap (5) gd.
