chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
jumped left, prominent, chased leader 3rd, led approaching 3 out, hung left flat, readily
hold, tended to jump left, led after 1st, clear approaching 3rd, headed before 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, headway 5th, weakened after 3 out
held up, headway when not fluent 3 out, mistake 2 out, went 3rd and mistake last, one pace
in touch, chased winner and every chance approaching 3 out, stayed on but no real impression on winner from 2 out
held up, headway and not fluent 3rd, chasing leaders 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders until 2nd, mid-division, behind when not fluent 3 out
led to after 1st, chased leader until jump slowly 3rd, behind from 5th
raced reluctantly in last place until jumped slowly 1st, always behind
prominent until after 3rd, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
The Thunderer is held in high regard by Nicky Henderson but has not been seen since finishing down the field in last season's Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and the stable remain quiet at present so preference is for Standin Obligation, who gets the vote over Noble Request. The last mentioned was not surprisingly outclassed behind Faasel at Aintree last time but this is more his level and the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding holds solid claims on earlier winning form here and at Taunton. Karen George's Malay fulfilled earlier promise here when winning at Worcester last time and has to be respected on only her third career start. She rates a bigger threat than Mark Brisbourne's Charlie Chapel, who showed signs of temperament when running out at Bangor earlier this month. A market move for Jim Old's Dunshaughlin would be of interest but preference is for Standin Obligation. Martin Pipe's gelding, who ran in Irish point-to-points, made a winning rules debut when beating the 125-rated Jackson by a neck at Exeter last week. With further improvement anticipated, Standin Obligation is taken to follow up.
Noble Request (FR) 100-1 Led, soon clear until weakened and headed 3 out, 9th of 12, well behind Faasel at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gs.
Standin Obligation (IRE) 9-4 Mid-division, went badly right 6th, headway next, chased winner after 3 out, hard ridden to lead close home, won at Exeter 2m 6f nh nov hdl (E) gd beating Jackson by a nk, 16 ran.
Charlie Chapel 11-1 Led, soon clear, hung badly right and ran out 5 out in race won by Von Origny at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft, 8 ran.
Dunshaughlin (IRE) 14-1 Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 15, 26l behind Pretty Star at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Feb.
Lyon 33-1 Held up, some headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 28l behind Escompteur at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (E) hvy in Mar.
Malay 7-2 Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden to lead approaching last, ran on well, won at Worcester 2m 4f mrs mdn hdl (F) gd beating Miss Shakira by 7l, 16 ran.
The Thunderer 20-1 Keen early, always towards rear, 20th of 24, well behind Total Enjoyment at Cheltenham 2m nhf Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar '04.
Bayadere (GER) 100-1 Towards rear, never a factor, 20th of 24, 48l behind Carte Diamond at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-110 (B1) sft in Nov (Flat).
