mid-division, not fluent 7th, headway 9th, tracked leader 11th, led approaching last, ridden and in command flat
towards rear, blundered 9th, struggling from next
behind, struggling and tailed off 9th, pulled up 3 out
led until slow and headed 8th (water) steadily weakened, tailed off 3 out
chased leaders, led 8th (water)driven after 2 out, headed before last, eased when held towards finish
in rear headway 11th, chased leaders 2 out, kept on same pace before last
towards rear, hit 12th, no chance after, tailed off and eased
close up, chased leader 8th (water) blundered 9th, driven 12th, soon struggling
mid-division, plugged on same pace from 2 out
chased leaders, weakened from 2 out
behind, moderate headway from 3 out
chased leader until ridden and lost place 8th(water) pulled up 9th
Peter Bowen has a 23% strike rate over the past five seasons at Stratford and NORTH ISLAND runs for him here, with Postmaster, King Troy and Storymaker likely to pose significant challenges. North Island comes off the back of a solid victory at Market Rasen last time out and is more favourable in the weights than Postmaster. Although an apprentice rider is on board, Donal Devereux led North Island to the win earlier in the month and this should not pose too much of a risk. Postmaster has an excellent chance but the considerable weight that is conceded to North Island makes this an exciting handicap. Postmaster gave a good account when scoring over a similar trip at Ffos Las where Herons Well was three lengths further back that day. King Troy and Storymaker could both figure prominently and are respected. We side with North Island though to take advantage of the handicap.
King Troy (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Held up in 4th, mistake 12th, closed 4 out, bumped 3 out, went close 2nd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Just Amazing (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gf in Oct, 6 ran.
Overclear 4-6fav (11-4) Led and disputed, advantage from 11th, pushed along after 3 out, joined 2 out, outgamed runner up flat, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Apr beating Five Dream (11-8) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Postmaster 6-1 (10-9) Held up behind, blundered 6th, headway 4 out, stayed on well to challenge last, soon led narrowly, ridden flat, just held on, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gf in Apr beating Stan (11-0) by nk, 7 ran.
Lord Jay Jay (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, dropped to rear when blundered 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by I'm So Lucky (11-2) at Sandown 2m chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Herons Well (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway to join leader 13th, ridden 3 out, stayed on and every chance when pecked last, no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Postmaster (10-9) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gf in Apr.
Tanks For That (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3rd, headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Bally Wall (10-1) at Ayr 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Nelson's Spice (IRE) 13-2 (12-0) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and weakened before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Another Jewel (11-4) at Punchestown 3m crs cntry chs (5yo+) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
Buck The Legend (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) In touch, hit 2nd, not fluent next, blundered 10th, ridden after 11th, lost place 13th, pulled up before 16th, in a race won by Ouzbeck (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Storymaker 11-2 (10-10) Mistake 1st, held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, chased leading pair from 3 out, ridden next, led last, kept on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr beating Picaroon (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
North Island (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Made virtually all, hit 6th, blundered 9th, strongly pressed from 3 out, stayed on gamely from last, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating Lawaaheb (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Bill's Echo 25-1 (11-10) Held up, hit 14th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, well behind Top Dressing (11-1) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Benbradagh (IRE) 6-1 (9-11) Led, headed 4 out, ridden in 3rd 3 out, no extra before 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 8, 27l behind Sarteano (10-13) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp chs gf.
