mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, lost place 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, no impression
chased leaders, hit 4 out, soon lost place, weakened next
mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leading pair next, ridden and kept on flat
always behind
tracked leaders, headway 4 out, 2nd and every chance, fell next
behind, lost touch after 4 out, pulled up next
mid-division, headway 4 out, left 2nd next, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace flat
with leader, led after 3rd, made rest, ridden and drifted left flat, kept on
led after 3rd, chased winner after 4 out, ridden and no impression from next
raced wide in rear, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders next, weakened 2 out
Krakow Baba may well have been all out to win at Fontwell when last seen and is now 5lbs higher but such is the weakness of the opposition that the Venetia Williams-trained gelding is taken to follow up at the main expense of Flame Phoenix and Simply Mystic. The last mentioned is entitled to come on for his encouraging return at Leicester last month but Peter Niven's gelding may bounce so is probably best watched. Karathaena has run to a consistent level of form of late but may just be a shade high in the weights at present. Fard du Moulin Mas has an absence to overcome, while County Classic has given little sign for optimism of late and of more interest may be Flame Phoenix, who ran as well as could have been expected behind Covent Garden in a better race than this at Aintree last month. Lack of a recent run for Krakow Baba has to be of concern but, if fit enough, he should be good enough to beat these.
Renvyle (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Held up, not jump well, ridden 11th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Strong Magic (10-3) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
Flame Phoenix (USA) 66-1 (9-13) Behind, headway on outside approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next, 5th of 12, 12l behind Covent Garden (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Nov.
Krakow Baba (FR) 33-1 (11-4) In touch, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, challenged and hit last, led flat, all out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Feb beating Pardishar (11-4) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Karathaena (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Held up, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never troubled leaders, 5th of 9, 11l behind October Mist (9-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Nov.
Simply Mystic 9-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, 7th of 10, 25l behind Honest Endeavour (10-11) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Nov.
Presumptuous 50-1 (11-7) Towards rear, never dangerous, 14th of 22, well behind Lawgiver (10-5) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in Apr.
County Classic 14-1 (10-11) Held up, reminders 5th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 10, 37l behind Smart Boy Prince (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs.
Backgammon 5-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance approaching last, one pace flat, 3rd of 14, 4l behind How Art Thou (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (F) gf in Nov.
Fard du Moulin Mas (FR) 20-1 (10-12) In touch, lost place 6th, no danger after, 7th of 14, 31l behind Lady Racquet (11-6) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in May.
Wally Wonder (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, weakened halfway, 10th of 16, 25l behind Welcome To Unos (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Nov.
Night Sight (USA) 18-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway 3f out, soon ridden, 3rd when beaten and not fluent last, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Smart Boy Prince (11-4) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (D) gf in Oct.
