towards rear, headway approaching 10th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, led 4th to 6th, stayed prominent, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
jumped right, mid-division, headway 12th, ridden after 4 out, one pace flat
mid-division, headway 8th, weakened 14th
mid-division, reminders 5th and 7th, weakened 9th, behind when jumped right 12th, soon pulled up
behind, kept on from 3 out, never troubled leaders
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led to 3rd, stayed prominent, ridden and switched left approaching 3 out, chased winner last, kept on
chased leaders, ridden 13th, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, lost place after 9th, behind when mistake 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
behind, headway 12th, ridden to lead 4 out, jumped right from 3 out, ran on
prominent, led 3rd to 4th, led again 6th to 8th, ridden after 13th, weakened when not much room after 14th, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, pushed along and lost place after 9th, soon behind
mid-division, lost place after 9th, no danger after
chased leaders, led 8th, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened 3 out
Nonrunner
A tricky race sees Poker Pal, Gielgud and Caribbean Cove short listed, with the vote going to Poker Pal. Runner Bean remains nine pounds above a winning mark, which might count against him winning. Presence Of Mind has won two of his last seven races, his mark is pretty fair and he would have needed his latest run. Hawk's Landing is generally consistent, but the handicapper possibly needs to help him a little more, but course and distance winner Gielgud, who scored for today's rider last time and who should, if you will, act on the going, looks set to go well today. Metal Detector is well weighted based on his best form but place claims at best look more likely based on recent efforts. Irish raider Poker Pal has to be given serious thought, while Caribbean Cove runs from just a pound above his fairly recent Leicester winning mark and is another to be granted respect. Track winner Sacrifice holds claims based on last summer's form, as does Aston based on his best 2005 Irish form. Paddy The Optimist comes here in great heart but a six-pounds rise for a narrow Hereford defeat will not help winning matters. Even though he has been disappointing since, Hehasalife would hold claims based on his autumn winning form, while He's The Biz has now dropped to below his course and distance winning mark of April 2005 and fellow course and distance winner Tudor King is competitively weighted based on his best 2005 form. Finally, Quizzling is not far above a winning mark but Peach Of A Citizen could not be strongly fancied. All of which returns us to the selection, Poker Pal.
Runner Bean 11-4 (11-7) Held up, headway 4th, mistake 9th, chased leader after 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 7, 26l behind Key Phil (12-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Presence of Mind (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) In touch, ridden 15th, weakened after next, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Galtee View (11-10) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jun, 12 ran.
Hawk's Landing (IRE) 17-2 (11-2) Held up, headway 10th, hampered next, ridden after 4 out, weakened and jumped right after 3 out, 3rd of 13, 17l behind Blazing Hills (9-11) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Gielgud 7-2 (11-10) Led 3rd, made rest, ridden flat to hold on near finish, won at Folkestone 2m 5f hts chs (6) gd in May beating Kerstino Two (12-3) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Metal Detector (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 15th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 12, 12l behind Galtee View (11-10) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
Poker Pal (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Held up, pushed along in rear 6 out, challenged and led 2 out, strongly pressed with slight advantage when bad mistake last, soon dropped to 3rd, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Sparkle Wood (10-1) at Limerick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-116 gs in May.
Paddy The Optimist (IRE) 10-3jt-fav (9-13) Prominent, led 16th, ridden 3 out, headed last, led again flat, headed last strides, 2nd of 12, nk behind Galtee View (11-10) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
Caribbean Cove (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Behind, headway 7th, weakened 9th, 4th of 11, 24l behind Mill Bank (10-11) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
