tracked leader, challenged on outside 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd and held when hit last
led, ridden and hard pressed 3 out, headed between last 2, kept on same pace flat
held up behind, struggling 4 out, never able to challenge, tailed off when pulled up before next
held up in 3rd, effort on inside 3 out, upsides when mistake next, led and edged left between last 2, ridden out flat
Hanga Roa couldn't cope with older horses at Sandown last time and may have a better chance back against his own age group. But his best form has come on faster ground and preference is for POETIC VERSE, who is conceding weight all round but was just beaten at Leicester on his debut before finishing third in a Listed race last time. Tinctoria has been placed twice and has been entered on a realistic weight. With Robert Williams taking off a further 5lb, she shouldn't be far away.
Poetic Verse 9-2 (10-12) Chased winner, not fluent 2nd, no impression when lost 2nd and hit 2 out, well beaten 3rd after, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Gitane Du Berlais (11-3) at Aintree 2m 1f Lstd fills juv hdl (1) sft.
Hanga Roa (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Chased leader until after 2nd, chased leaders, weakened quickly before 3 out, tailed off, last of 15, well behind Lord Protector (11-2) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs.
Hillbilly Boy (IRE) 11-8fav (8-8) Keen led, headed over 7f out, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 4, 6l behind Minimee (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo clm stks (6) pol in Mar (flat).
Big John Cannon (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 5th, stayed on from before 2 out, never on terms, 7th of 14, 12l behind Seaside Shuffle (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl (3yo+) (5) gd.
Tinctoria 12-1 (10-5) With leader, led 3 out, headed 2 out, ridden before last, lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Mixed Message (10-5) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
