held up in touch, took closer order 5th, blundered 5 out, chased winner after next, ridden and blundered 2 out, kept on from last
chased leaders, quickly weakened, lost place 4 out, stayed on from next, took 3rd last
made all, ridden and blundered 2 out, driven out
held up in touch, weakened 4 out
chased winner, reminders approaching 5 out, ridden and weakened after next
held up in rear, reminders approaching 5th, lost place from next, pulled up after 7th
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
King's Bounty can gain another course-and-distance success at the expense of Meehan, Regal Term and Mandingo Chief. King's Bounty has been consistent in the past but equally frustrating to follow, having run up any number of placed efforts over the past two years, with just the one victory at Kelso in that period to show. However, it all came good here on his last start in February as Tim Easterby's charge led four out and won a shade comfortably under Stephen Craine. Philip Kinsella takes over in the plate today, and his 7lb claim can offset some of the 9lb rise slapped on by the handicapper. Other than that penalty, he has not got a great deal to worry about in another class 4 contest, with Meehan perhaps the main danger. He opened his account in easy fashion at Worcester, but the ground was much faster and he will struggle to contain the selection under these conditions. Regal Term stayed on when scoring over shorter here last time but topweight and a longer journey await, while Mandingo Chief will like it here more so than when running out of steam behind Jonny's Kick at Towcester, but the stable is not in the best of form. All in all, Tim Easterby appears to have found another suitable opportunity for King's Bounty to shine.
Flight Command 22-1 (10-7) In touch, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 4th, led 4 out to 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 15l behind Bronzesmith (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
King's Bounty 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, led 11th, drew clear approaching last, pushed out, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Feb beating Opportunity Knocks (9-7) by 7l, 13 ran.
Garde Bien 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, last of 8, 47l behind Loulou Nivernais (10-3) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft in Nov.
Mandingo Chief (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 9th, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened flat, 2nd of 16, 8l behind Jonny's Kick (11-2) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (4) gd in Apr.
Tacolino (FR) 12-1 (10-1) Held up, weakened after 5 out, blundered 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Rookery Lad (10-11) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf, 9 ran.
Lanmire Tower (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (10-9) Mid-division, ridden and struggling from 8th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Phildari (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Regal Term (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, led 9th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on from last, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gd in Apr beating Elvis Returns (11-6) by 3l, 10 ran.
Meehan (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Headway 5th, jumped right 6th, led 10th, clear when mistake 2 out, eased near finish, won at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Apr beating Lahinch Lad (10-11) by 5l, 10 ran.
