tracked leaders, led after 3 out, driven out
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, headway 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
chased leader to 3 out, weakened 2 out
keen, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway after 6th, ridden 9th, weakened approaching 2 out
always behind, tailed off from 7th
pulled hard, mid-division, headway 5th, every chance 2 out, soon hung left, hit last, one pace flat
mid-division, headway 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, badly hampered and unseated rider 6th
hit 8th, always towards rear
chased leaders, ridden and lost place 4th, behind when hampered 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
The Richard Phillips-trained On Y Va has every chance judged by official BHB ratings but has broken blood vessels in the past and may not be the most reliable of betting propositions so preference is for Grande Creole, who gets the vote ahead of Rowley Hill. The last mentioned has shown improved form since being sent handicapping winning staying races at Huntingdon and Towcester in his last two starts; however, Alan King's gelding has a double penalty to carry and may struggle to concede weight away all round. The Seamus Mullins-trained Middleham Park has more to do than when winning at Plumpton and of more interest may be the ex-French Lease Back, who makes his belated British debut for trainer Lawrence Wells today. The vote though goes to Grande Creole, showed improved form for the step up in distance when chasing home stablemate Commanche War Paint (a winner at Cheltenham on Thursday) at Taunton. With plenty more to come from the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding he looks to be the one they all have to beat.
Rowley Hill 2-1fav Tracked leaders, led 2 out, edged right approaching last, drew clear flat, won at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) sft in Mar beating Heavenly Stride by 8l, 6 ran.
Middleham Park (IRE) 11-1 Tracked leader, led 6th, in command 2 out, stayed on well, eased flat, won at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gd in Mar beating Crackleando by 6l, 9 ran.
On Y Va (FR) 7-2 Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner approaching next, soon ridden, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 6l behind Football Crazy at Market Rasen 3m nov hdl (E) gf in Jun.
Abraham Smith 12-1 Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders 7th, kept on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 11, 6l behind Gan Eagla at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gs in Mar.
Carluccios Quest 6-4fav pulled up in race won by Sarah's Party at Sandon 3m ptp in Mar, 13 ran.
Grande Creole (FR) 5-1 Held up mid-division, headway 9th, ridden and chased leaders 3 out, challenged 2 out, jumped awkwardly last, kept on flat, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Comanche War Paint at Taunton 3m nov hdl (E) gs in Mar.
Lease Back (FR) Handy, hampered 5th, ran on to lead last, kept on well, won at Le Lion D'angers 2m 4f ch gs in Sept '03 beating Massac by 6l, 9 ran.
Pottsy's Joy 11-1 Always towards rear, 9th of 15, well behind Pebble Bay at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gs in Mar.
