tracked leaders, led halfway, headed 3f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 6f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, weakened 6f out
held up towards rear, never dangerous
prominent, lost place 6f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in touch, tracked leaders 5f out, led on bit over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon under pressure, held on well
chase leaders, led 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway 6f out, challenged on bit over 2f out, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, no extra towards finish
led until before halfway, weakened over 6f out
held up in rear, some headway over 2f out, never dangerous
held up mid-division, effort over 2f out, never dangerous
No fewer than three of the 14 runners in this contest have already won bumpers and all three, Mick Easterby's Wetherby scorer Fridaythorpe, Huntingdon winner Kings Grey and Tim Easterby's four-year-old Eagle Owl, have to be respected but may struggle to win again under their penalties with a better bet looking to be ROCKS RULE. Alan Swinbank's runners in this grade always warrant respect with the Japanese bred gelding being no exception on his debut and he may be worth backing first time up. Rock 'n Rose has more experience than most of these but she needs to improve on all known form to get involved at the business end of the race, while Howard Johnson's Arrow Barrow has a bit to find with Fridaythorpe on Wetherby running. Malcolm Jefferson's Blue Abbey ran well enough first time up at Plumpton back in April and he has to be considered but it may be worth siding with the newcomer, Rocks Rule.
Fridaythorpe (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong to lead near finsh, won at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) sft in Feb beating Nelson's Chief (10-7) by shd, 16 ran.
Kings Grey (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Made all, ridden out inside final furlong, won at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan beating Mister Chancer (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Andreo Bambaleo 66-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, beaten from halfway, 10th of 12, well behind Gilbarry (10-9) at Kelso 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar '09.
Arrow Barrow (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) In touch, outpaced 5f out, soon no impression, 5th of 16, 16l behind Fridaythorpe (11-0) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) sft in Feb.
Blue Abbey (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, pushed along over 4f out, one pace final 2f, 4th of 7, 8l behind Divy (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 2f NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Drumgray Terimon gelding out of Scandalous Affair.
Frontier Boy (IRE) New Frontier gelding out of Mary Bridie.
Papamoa Terimon gelding out of Larksmore.
Rocks Rule (IRE) Oguri Cap gelding out of Waka Shirayuki.
Sunnyside 28-1 (10-11) Towards rear, headway 6f out, chased leaders over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 13, 19l behind Miss Abbey (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m NH flat (5) gd in Jan.
Eagle Owl (IRE) 10-3 (10-8) Held up mid-division, headway 5f out, led 2f out, drew clear approaching final furlong, comfortably, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) hvy in Feb beating Power Flow (11-4) by 7l, 11 ran.
Mr Windmill 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, weakened over 8f out, last of 11, well behind Benartic (11-7) at Southwell 2m mdn nat hunt flt (4-6yo) (4) std in Jan.
Psalm Twentythree 18-1 (10-9) Held up, in rear, ridden over 3f out, kept on from over 2f out, never dangerous, 7th of 12, 27l behind Amuse Me (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m NH flat (5) gd in Feb.
Rock 'n Rose 11-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 3f out, one pace, 3rd of 14, 10l behind Portway Girl (9-13) at Kelso 2m mrs N H flat (5) sft in Feb.
