mid-division, hit 4th and reminders, losing place when not fluent 5th, struggling and no impression after
held up in rear, effort 7th, weakened 3 out, well behind when pulled up before 2 out
chased leader to 5th, remained prominent, went 2nd again approaching 2 out, led last, stayed on gamely
mid-division, headway to track leaders 5th, driven and outpaced 7th, soon struggling
led, soon clear, came back to field after 4th, headed after 3 out, weakened between last 2
chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, soon led, ridden after 2 out, headed last, no extra towards finish
mid-division, raced keenly, headway to track leaders after 4th, pecked 7th, 4th when blundered 3 out, weakened quickly
held up, headway 7th, chasing leaders when mistake 3 out, soon beaten
soon well behind
held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, outpaced and lost place after next, progress 3 out, soon switched right, stayed on flat to take 2nd towards finish
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, ridden after next, driven and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always well behind
Not a strong race by any stretch of the imagination and Ask The Gatherer gets the nod ahead of Robbie Can Can, Boyastara and Dr Dream. Carl Llewellyn's gelding is no star but as he drops in grade today, he should be capable of seeing off this moderate bunch. He didn't take to chasing earlier in the season but back over hurdles again he can prove too strong. Ask The Umpire is a course and distance winner but his recent form has been woeful, so a more eminent danger may be Boyastara who won well last time out but the drop in trip doesn't look ideal for this strong stayer. Robbie Can Can should be fit from the flat and won his race the last time we saw him over timber, however we will return to Ask The Gatherer to resume the winning trail.
Boyastara (FR) 10-3fav (10-9) Raced keenly, chased clear leading pair after 2nd, not fluent 5th, closed before 7th, led after 3 out, clear before 2 out, stayed on well, won at Stratford 2m 6f sll hdl (5) sft in Mar beating Reelinga (10-9) by 10l, 11 ran.
Grave Doubts 40-1 (11-8) Always behind, tailed off from 5th, 10th of 13, well behind Mickmacmagoole (10-9) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Nov.
Ask The Gatherer (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Led, headed briefly 2nd, reminders 7th, mistake 8th, ridden 3 out, headed, weakened last, 3rd of 11, 10l behind New Team (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
Ask The Umpire (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Soon behind, tailed off and pulled up 5 out in race won by Arceye (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 3f sll hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Mar, 12 ran.
Backscratcher 25-1 (10-11) Dwelt, behind, headway to track leader 2nd, weakened after 5th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Monash Lad (10-11) at N Abbot 2m 3f amt sll hdl (5) gs in Mar, 6 ran.
Barren Lands 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division until weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 16, 42l behind Wotchalike (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Mar.
Isa'af (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, blundered 2nd, headway 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 14, well behind Synchronised (10-8) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Robbie Can Can 7-2 (11-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden and hit 2 out, disputed lead last, led run-in, ran on, won at Towcester 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Oct '06 beating Scarlet Mix (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
Salveo (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Behind, reminders 9th, outpaced 12th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Royal Mackintosh (11-0) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Sir Pandy (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Led until 5th, led after 6th until 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 14, well behind Lenny The Blade (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
Dr Dream (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) In rear, headway after 5th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, well behind Young Yozza (11-6) at Leicester 2m nov clm hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Mialyssa 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden, headway after 8th, went 3rd after 3 out, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 13, 21l behind Hill Forts Henry (11-8) at Taunton 3m cnd sll hcp hdl (5) gs.
