led, hit 7th, ridden and headed approaching 10th, 5th and weakening when hampered 3 out, pulled up soon after
keen in rear, headway 10th, left 3rd 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on to lead post
with leader, hit 9th, led approaching next, ridden 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on one pace
always in rear, slow 8th, struggling from next
in touch, headway to chase leader 10th, ridden to lead approaching last, put head in air flat caught post
tracked leaders, ridden and 3rd when fell 3 out
always in rear, behind when mistake 3 out
in rear, left moderate 4th 3 out, jumped right 2 out
ASHMOLIAN is given the vote here ahead of Aega and Play A Cord in this winnable opener. Jockey Gemma Gracey-Davison knows this horse well and this Grand Lodge gelding won well at Towcester last time out. He has a 7lb penalty for that success but with this longer trip unlikely to be a problem he should run well. Aega seemed to improve for the application of cheek-pieces at the track last time out and her experience of this tight circuit should see her run well, Grand Article was behind the selection when both finished down the field in a race won by Oursinlaw, whilst Nishinash has plenty to prove in terms of stamina and the ground. Play A Cord has been put back up 3lbs for his second to Alldunnandusted last month but comes here in better form than most, whilst Smart N Sharp has been tumbling down the weights for a good reason. Any market move for the Jeff Pearce-trained Fort Royal should be taken seriously; Jamie Moore is booked for the ride on the 11-year-old who has his first run for the yard today after a 940 day absence from the track. This looks a good chance for Ashmolian to win again.
Aega 16-1 (10-13) Led, ridden after 3 out, headed next, kept on under pressure until ridden and one pace flat, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Another Storm (11-10) at Fakenham 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (0-105) (4) gf.
Ashmolian (IRE) 4-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, went close 2nd before next, level last, stayed on well to gain upper hand towards finsih, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf beating Alldunnandusted (10-10) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Grand Article (IRE) 80-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, driven and lost place 3 out, weakened from next, 7th of 8, 36l behind Oursininlaw (10-13) at Fakenham 2m 7f nh nov hdl (3) gf.
Nishnash 50-1 (10-6) Mid-division on outside, struggling after 8th, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Haldibari (10-6) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Play A Cord (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Held up, headway to chase leaders 7th, 2nd going well 3 out, led 2 out, headed when mistake last, no extra flat, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Alldunnandusted (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.
Buailteoir (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Took keen hold in rear, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Star Galaxy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Smart N Sharp (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Raced in rear, headway 9th, soon chasing leaders, went 3rd 3out, soon under pressure and weakened, 7th of 11, 46l behind My Matilda (10-7) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Fort Royal (IRE) 66-1 (9-7) Blundered 1st, soon behind, blundered 11th and tailed off, virtually refused 3 out, blundered next, dismounted after finish, finished lame, 5th of 6, well behind Lik Wood Power (11-3) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Oct '07.
