tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on same pace
in rear and keen, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, no impression
held up mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, weakened last
held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out
held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out
tracked winner, ridden before last, no impression
tracked leaders in 4th, weakened before 2 out
This looks between the two penalised for earlier wins. Desert Island Dusk is the most recent winner but faces a tougher task than when successful at Hexham with BEATU preferred. The latter won at Haydock in March and has come up against higher rated opposition than these in a couple of subsequent starts. Donald McCain’s charge should go close again on these terms. Lycidas was runner-up in a maiden hurdle at Market Rasen last time but the remainder are hard to fancy unless Shy takes to hurdling having placed in a bumper last month.
Beatu (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd behind clear leader 3rd, closed when mistake 3 out, led before next, soon headed, 3rd and beaten when blundered last, weakened flat, 5th of 9, 7 3/4l behind Cornborough (11-12) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
Desert Island Dusk 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, ridden to chase leader before last, led run-in, kept on well, won at Hexham 2m hcp (4) gd in May beating Ash Park (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Cloud Monkey (IRE) 66-1 (8-13) Held up, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 11th of 20, 13 1/4l behind Appeared (9-5) at York 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Cully Mac (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along and some headway 5th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 10, 22 1/2l behind John Monash (11-0) at Perth 2m mdn (4) gf in May.
Lycidas (GER) 5-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, with winner, led 2nd, headed between last 2, ridden and kept same pace from last, well held final 100 yards, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind For Goodness Sake (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in May.
Moscow Calling (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden before 4th, mistake next, well beaten 3 out, 8th of 10, dist behind John Monash (11-0) at Perth 2m mdn (4) gf in May.
Spifer (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 5th, lost place after 3 out, pulled up before next, at Perth 2m mdn (4) gf in May.
Yorksters Prince (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake and struggling 5th, stayed on flat, no impression, 5th of 10, 17 1/2l behind John Monash (11-0) at Perth 2m mdn (4) gf in May.
Alwareed 25-1 (10-12) In touch in rear, headway 7f out, 3rd and ridden over 2f out, no impression on winner, no extra and lost 3rd inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 20l behind Royal Supremo (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (6) gs in Apr.
Martila (FR) 2-1 (10-1) Tracked leader, pushed along before last, soon lost 2nd place and no extra, 3rd of 7, 13 3/4l behind Move To The Groove (10-12) at Hexham 2m (4) gd in May.
Shy (CZE) 18-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led halfway, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 7, 10 1/4l behind Book At Bedtime (11-0) at Hexham 2m (6) gd in May.
Silver Trix (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear on outside, well beaten after 7th, tailed off 3 out, last of 9, dist behind Traditional Dancer (10-9) at Perth 2m 4f mdn (5) gd in May.