always behind, tailed off and pulled up before last
in touch, headway after 8th, challenged 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace, went left last
mid-division until weakened after 4 out
mid-division, hit 6th, soon ridden, weakened after 8th, pulled up before 4 out
led after 1st, ridden and hard pressed from 3 out, edged left and headed approaching last, kept on, no extra
held up behind, headway after 8th, ridden after 3 out, hit next, stayed on same pace
mid-division, headway 7th, ridden after 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway after 8th, ridden after 4 out, stayed on same pace
in touch until 5th, soon behind, pulled up after 8th
always struggling to go pace, always in rear
led until after 1st, chased leader, hit 8th, weakening when hampered on bend soon after
always behind, pulled up before 7th
mid-division, headway after 5th, went 2nd after 8th, ridden to challenge 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well
fell 1st
held up towards rear, good headway 3rd to chase leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened after 3 out
mid-division until weakened approaching 4 out
mid-division, hit 4th, weakened after 8th, tailed off and pulled up before last
chased leaders until 7th, soon behind, tailed off
Oberon Moon looks a tad high in the weights and preference in what looks another competitive contest is for NEVER SO BLUE ahead of The Wooden Spoon and Old School. Venetia Williams has her horses in good form and the selection comes here on the back of an eight month break. He signed off in April with just an average fifth to Quws Law at Ayr but that form doesn't look bad and he is proven on this ground. His confidence was probably knocked after two chase falls last February but remaining over the smaller obstacles today, a big run could be on the cards. The Wooden Spoon also comes here on the back of a break and Jim Best's ten-year-old chases the hat-trick. This new mark demands more improvement but with a good conditional aboard, don't rule out a big run. Deep Pockets may have a been a slightly fortuitous winner at Exeter but he is still one to keep on the right side of, Maktu doesn't look badly treated on a mark of 114 and acts around the track, whilst Quidonc has run some good races in defeat but is now becoming slightly expensive to follow. Old School has been off the track for two years; he has plenty to prove but a market move would make him very much of interest. Mortimers Cross, Another Brother and Charles Street all need consideration; however it is Never So Blue who can land the spoils.
Oberon Moon (IRE) 15-2 (9-10) Held up in rear, headway 10th, outpaced from 4 out, 6th of 15, 16l behind According To Pete (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
The Wooden Spoon (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Made all, ridden approaching 3 out, hit next, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 7f nov hdl (4) gs in Apr beating Mr Barnacle (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Mortimers Cross 15-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, mistake 3 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 10, 2l behind The Very Man (11-0) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Quidonc (FR) 15-8fav (10-12) In touch, pecked 8th, ridden 3 out, chased winner from 2 out but no impression, 2nd of 9, 14l behind Tragic Realm (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Another Brother (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Led, not fluent 7th, hit 9th, headed 11th, hit 12th, blundered 13th, mistake and weakened 14th, 4th of 9, 35l behind Le Beau Bai (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Maktu 11-1 (10-9) Held up, not fluent 1st, headway 3 out, ridden 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov beating Tamadot (11-12) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Never So Blue (FR) 4-1 (10-11) Held up, chased leaders approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 9, 21l behind Quws Law (11-6) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr.
Charles Street 10-3 (10-8) Held up, headway 4 out, every chance 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Maktu (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Old School (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, progress to lead after 4 out, joined and ridden from next, stayed on well to lead close home, won at Navan 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-102 hvy in Jan '07 beating Hows Trix (10-1) by 2l, 30 ran.
Deep Pockets (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Chased leader, ridden to lead approaching 3 out, in command when left clear last, kept on, won at Exeter 2m 5f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft beating Saint Par (11-0) by 7l, 17 ran.
Glen Omen (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Led, ridden and headed 4 out, outpaced when hit 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 35l behind Don't Ask Me (10-9) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in May.
Supreme Cara 4-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, driven along after 4th, soon tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Richard's Sundance (11-8) at Exeter 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov, 7 ran.
Heathcliff (IRE) 11-2 (10-4) Held up in touch, tracked leader halfway, ridden to challenge 2 out, led last, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov beating House Of Bourbon (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Arctic Shadow 9-1 (10-5) Held up, headway to track leaders 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace, hit last, 3rd of 9, 18l behind Cannon Fire (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy.
Magnifico (FR) 33-1 (11-2) Prominent, went 2nd after 6th, weakened approaching 9th, 8th of 12, well behind Ricardo's Chance (11-4) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Minella Boys (IRE) 11-4 (10-9) In touch, chased leader 6th, led 7th, headed 2 out, hung left approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Mortimers Cross (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Last Flight (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, stayed on to chase winner last, 2nd of 13, 15l behind Ogee (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Montana Gold (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up, ridden and lost place 9th, 5th of 11, 24l behind Coda Agency (11-5) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
