mid-division, headway 11th, ridden approaching and hit 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
led, ridden after 5 out, headed approaching next, soon weakened
tracked leader, weakened from 4 out
held up in rear, headway after 5 out, led 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on and headed final 75 yards
prominent, reminders after 8th, pushed along 13th, weakened approaching 4 out
held up mid-division on outside, not fluent 9th, chased leaders 10th, led approaching 4 out, headed next, no extra flat
held up towards rear, headway approaching and hit 4 out, one pace from 2 out
towards rear, pushed along after 9th, headway approaching next, weakened after 5 out
chased leaders, weakened after 5 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, hard ridden flat, ran on strongly to lead final 75 yards
It's hard to get away from NOTHINGBUTTHETRUTH here and he's selected to beat Native City and Killard Point, although Seize and Chernik could also figure. Tim Pitt's charge arrives in search of a course hat-trick having won twice over 2m5f here. This step up in trip is of no concern and conditions are ideal, so the only question to be answered is whether the handicapper has got him now following a 10lb hike for his latest success. He despatched a decent yardstick that day and our belief is there's another race in him yet, especially if he can iron out the odd jumping error. Native City was second last time and races off the same mark so has to be considered a player. As with our selection he's prone to making mistakes and it was that rather than the handicapper that cost him any chance of winning last time; if he does jump better he'll make our selection go with conditions to suit. Killard Point will want a true test over this trip and was a shade disappointing last time but he's consistent enough and seems to like it here; winning from this mark isn't beyond him, but this is a warm race. Seize is a genuine stayer who tends to run his race; he likes it quick and remains on a fair mark having taken second the last twice. Chernik is down a pound in the ratings following a fair effort in defeat last time and like Seize is pretty reliable; both of his wins have come at around this trip on good or faster ground and he's beginning to look fairly treated. This has a competitive look to it but Nothingbutthetruth arrives in rude health and can go in once more.
Brave Rebellion 16-1 (11-7) Behind, not always fluent, reminder after 5th, mistake 9th, well beaten 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Nedzer's Return (11-3) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Cossack Dancer (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Mistake 1st, chased leader until 10th, outpaced before 4 out, stayed on under pressure flat, 4th of 13, 6l behind Warpath (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Killard Point (IRE) 11-10fav (11-12) Led, headed 12th, reminders approaching 5 out, led soon after, headed 3 out, kept on from last, held near finish, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Dawn Ride (11-1) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Nothingbutthetruth (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) Held up behind, in touch, headway to track leading pair 9th, challenged on inside before 4 out, led next, drew clear from 2 out, easily, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May beating Scale Bank (11-12) by 22l, 6 ran.
Native City (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Ripalong Lad (10-13) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Chernik (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Led, ridden approaching 3 out, headed last, weakened last 100 yards, 3rd of 5, 10l behind Rusty Red (10-2) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Hold The Bid (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden along after 4 out, plugged on from next, 6th of 12, 9l behind North Island (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Seize 5-2fav (11-11) In rear, headway 14th to chase leaders, challenged 3 out, led last, headed entering final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Minouchka (11-5) at Kelso 3m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Baltic Pathfinder (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) In touch, hit 11th, driven 4 out, headway to lead 2 out, ridden last, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in May beating Emotive (10-4) by 1l, 15 ran.
Bale O'shea (IRE) 4-1 (10-6) Held up, towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 12, 13l behind Grandad Bill (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
Native Coral (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, reminder after 12th, stumbled next, headway to chase leaders after 5 out, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, 50l behind Sheriff Hutton (11-12) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in May.
