held up in rear, headway over 2f out, hard ridden to challenge over 1f out, soon hung right and every chance, stayed on under pressure to lead close home
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, lost place over 1f out
awkward start, soon led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon one pace
held up towards rear, ridden halfway, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, driven and headway over 2f out, never able to challenge
chased leaders, led over 1f out, soon hung right, nudged along and headed well inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, hung left halfway, soon beaten and eased
chased leaders, hard ridden to challenge over 2f out, weakened final furlong
Frankie Dettori looks an eye-catching jockey booking on JONNIE SKULL and with that one really well treated on his return to turf we side with him ahead of Yakama while Pipers Piping could bounce back to form. Racing off a lower mark than when scoring at Southwell last time the pick looks a handicap good thing. Granted he is better in the all-weather sphere and although he is untested on this ground his preference for Southwell offers hope he might act on it. Yakama has been running well recently with limited returns and with encouraging form on this ground in the past he has to be considered a leading player despite going up in the weights after another near miss last time. Pipers Piping may have been unsuited by the surface when chasing a hat-trick last time and while he might not be totally at home in these conditions he should put in a better display. The form from Big Boom's defeat as a short-priced favourite last time has worked out well meaning he's up in the handicap without running and might have fitness to prove so with Ejeed likely to miss this race we turn to Jonnie Skull as the pick.
Aviso (GER) 14-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, never a factor, 10th of 12, 10l behind Danderek (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
Big Boom Evensfav (9-5) Led, headed over 3f out, ridden and every chance over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 6l behind Capone (9-11) at Yarmouth 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Aug.
Pipers Piping (IRE) 9-1 (8-2) In rear, wide and headway halfway, weakening when hampered over 1f out, 7th of 8, 11l behind Punching (9-4) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-70 (5) std in Mar.
Jonnie Skull (IRE) 14-1 (8-8) Soon outpaced and behind, headway over 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, all out, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Mar beating Young Gladiator (8-12) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Shadow Bay (IRE) 50-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway on inner over 2f out, weakened inside the final furlong, 5th of 7, 5l behind Little Pete (9-12) at Kempton 7f clm stks (6) pol in Feb.
Eye For The Girls 12-1 (8-13) Chased leader, jinked left, unbalanced over 2f out, soon weakened, eased final furlong, 13th of 14, 14l behind Ocean Countess (9-2) at Brighton 1m 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Oct.
Hilltop Legacy 33-1 (7-13) Slowly into stride, held up, towards rear, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 13, 10l behind Harting Hill (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-68 (6) pol in Feb.
Djalalabad (FR) 22-1 (8-5) Held up towards rear, headway on outer over 5f out to track leaders, led over 4f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 14l behind Naledi (8-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Mar.
Ejeed (USA) 13-2 (8-5) Keen, tracked leaders, every chance and chased leader over 1f out, led briefly 1f out, no extra near finish, 4th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Hip Hip Hooray (8-4) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Yakama (IRE) 11-4fav (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, hard ridden to press for 2nd entering final furlong, not quicken, 3rd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Lady Lam (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Mar.
