held up, headway 7th, blundered and unseated rider 9th
led, headed 2nd, remained prominent, ridden to join winner 7th, weakened approaching 2 out
close up, lost place 8th, soon weakened
in touch, pushed along 4th, behind 6th, kept on approaching last
prominent, chased winner after 3 out, kept on one pace
led 2nd, unchallenged, clear over 2 out, blundered last, ran on
Just the six runners line up for this contest and it looks to provide the in-form Runner Bean with another great opportunity to add to his tally this season with the biggest dangers likely to be Wild Power and Pornic. The last mentioned is capable but generally inconsistent and is difficult to recommend with any confidence, while the Ron Hodges-trained Just Jimbo has a long absence to overcome. Gemi Bed has given little cause for optimism so far and a bigger threat may come from Wild Power. John O'Shea's six-year-old is a consistent performer and comes here on the back of another respectable effort at Market Rasen earlier this month. Polish Pilot hails from the in-form stable of John Cornwall and has to be respected. His recent form leaves the nine-year-old with something to find though and a safer bet looks to be Runner Bean. Richard Lee's gelding resumed winning ways at Wincanton last month and, despite another rise in the weights still looks to be the one they all have to beat.
