held up, headway 4th, nudged along when hit 6th, soon ridden, weakened next, tailed off
chased leader, ridden to lead after 3 out, headed next, kept on same pace
patiently ridden in rear, ridden, headway after 3 out, led, hit 2 out, not fluent last, ran on
held up, ridden, headway after 3 out, every chance next, kept on
led, hit 3 out, soon ridden, headed next, soon beaten
held up, short lived effort after 3 out
held up, headway, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, weakened
Critical Stage had to work hard to win here over 2m6f last month and Jimmy Frost's gelding may struggle to follow up off a 5lb higher mark under these more testing conditions and over the shorter trip today so preference is for In Media Res, who gets the vote with Lit Et Mixe rated the pick of the remainder. The selection ran better back under more testing conditions at Plumpton last month when chasing home Spider Boy and, despite a 3lb rise since then, Charlie Longsdon's gelding still looks the one they all have to beat. Cold Mountain has the ability to take a hand in the finish but he has yet to prove that he handles ground as testing as this. David Pipe's Sainte Kadette was a winner in testing ground in France but has given little cause for encouragement in recent starts, while Bold Fire is one of the lesser lights from the yard of Paul Nicholls. Noel Chance's Lit Et Mixe was good value for his win on a soft surface at Stratford last time and has to be respected off just a 5lb higher mark today in receipt of weight all round but In Media Res has solid claims and he is preferred.
Bold Fire 22-1 (11-5) Mid-division, good headway approaching 6th, ridden in 3rd after next, weakened 2 out, 6th of 12, 10l behind Bureaucrat (11-11) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Cold Mountain (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) In touch, slightly outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on again from 2 out, 5th of 12, 9l behind Bureaucrat (11-11) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
In Media Res (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 2 out, driven, kept on under pressure flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Spider Boy (9-9) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Critical Stage (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Towards rear, ridden and struggling 7th, stayed on from 2 out, challenged last, ran on to lead close home, won at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Apr beating Sea Eagle (11-12) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Sainte Kadette (FR) 5-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, shaken up approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened flat, 8th of 15, 14l behind Atomic Winner (10-13) at Ludlow 2m nov hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Federstar (GER) 50-1 (10-0) Held up, headway on inside after 7th, shuffled back before next, progress 2 out, beaten approaching last, 7th of 15, 13l behind Schindlers Son (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs.
Lit Et Mixe (FR) 14-1 (10-11) In touch, niggled along from 4th, outpaced 3 out, hard ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead and left clear last, won at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Apr beating Melvino (10-7) by 4l, 8 ran.
Creinch 7-2fav (11-6) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, one pace, 4th of 12, 5l behind Carrietau (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Apr.
