held up behind, headway 4 out, outpaced next, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders when blundered next, one pace and no impression approaching last
made all, ridden between last 2, stayed on well
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, kept on same pace from next
in touch, ridden 2 out, kept on under pressure, no impression
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on from last, no impression
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
mid-division, ridden and lost place 4 out, soon beaten
behind, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
mid-division, close up 4th, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, kept on, no impression
mid-division, lost place 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders to 5th, soon behind, tailed off 3 out
Nonrunner
Ferdy Murphy has enjoyed a tremendous time of it lately and he can have another winner here with Neptune Joly, who should be too good for Cheer Us On, Categorical, while Diamond Vein could earn some prize money from his long trip north. The selection seems to handle any ground, having won on heavy at Sedgefield in February and going close on fast ground when returning to that track last time. He is in good form, has Graham Lee up and should not be inconvenienced by the drop back in trip so he gets the nod. Cheer Us On is proven on this ground, having won on good to firm in a Ludlow bumper last year. However, his hurdles form thus far leaves him needing to find improvement here. Categorical is a course and distance winner who would curely prefer softer ground to give his best, while Diamond Vein has been sent a long way by former Gold Cup-winning trainer Sirrell Griffiths. He has been given a stiff task after a soft ground win here in February and is unproven on fast ground but the fitting of first time cheek pieces might help him make the frame. For us though, the choice here is Neptune Joly.
Temple Place (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Keen, always towards rear, 9th of 12, well behind Ellerslie Tom (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Sept.
Categorical 9-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden next, weakened last, 6th of 15, 15l behind My Lady Link (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Cheer Us On 22-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 1st, weakened approaching last, 7th of 17, 9l behind Lutea (11-6) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Hot Lips Page (FR) 11-2jt-fav (10-9) Towards rear, short lived effort 7th, 10th of 17, well behind Ordre de Bataille (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Neptune Joly (FR) 9-2 (11-2) In touch, headway 7th, led 3 out, ridden and headed between last 2, one pace flat, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Escayola (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf.
Relix (FR) 25-1 (9-12) Towards rear, outpaced 4 out, headway under pressure after 3 out, soon no impression, 4th of 8, 14l behind Wee Dinns (10-9) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in May.
Mister Fizzbomb (IRE) 3-1fav (10-12) Mid-division on inside, chased leaders after 3 out, no impression approaching last, 4th of 15, 12l behind Shaydreambeliever (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Le Rouge Fatal (FR) 13-2 (11-7) Prominent, weakened from 5th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Shares (11-0) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
