in touch, went 2nd briefly 7th, not fluent 9th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, hit 1st, chased winner approaching last, stayed on flat
mid-division, jumped slowly and lost place 2nd, headway approaching 7th, soon under pressure, weakened approaching last
in touch, lost place when reminders 3rd, driven in rear 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
raced keenly, chased leader to 7th, weakening when mistake next, tailed off
prominent to 5th, in rear when not fluent next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, raced keenly, headway 7th, weakened 9th
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra last
mid-division, lost place 5th, behind from 9th
always prominent, raced keenly, not fluent 5th or 3 out, led when not fluent 2 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on flat
raced keenly in rear, behind from 9th, tailed off
mid-division, ridden 7th, behind from 9th, tailed off
In a very competitive contest we can form a shortlist of about five and just heading that list is SHENANIGAN in front of Minella Theatre and Double Hit. The selection capped a run of consistent performances to a distance in in similar company last time out. Earlier she was considered good enough for a crack the David Nicholson Mare's race at Cheltenham and although that proved folly she is obviously rated highly by connections and the form from her penultimate start looks solid. Minella Theatre wasn't disgraced in Aintree's Champion Bumper last season and has built on that over timber this term including an easy win two starts back; his latest effort, though, was a little disappointing. This represents a step up in trip for Double Hit and it's hard to se that suiting on fast ground when his best as come around two miles in testing conditions. Dunkelly Castle has good claims after winning easily in a weaker race in quick conditions last time while Tuskar Rock's consistent displays have him in calculations. A nice tight race to kick things off then where Shenanigan has the verdict.
Dunkelly Castle (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, hit 8th and 9th, led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on, won at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gf beating Cresswell Willow (10-8) by 5l, 5 ran.
Minella Theatre (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Held up, headway to chase winner 3 out, around 2 lengths 3rd when blundered throughout, not recover, 3rd of 7, 17l behind Definity (11-8) at Newbury 3m nov hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Shenanigan 7-2 (10-9) Held up, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 8th, led before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, driven flat, stayed on, won at Ludlow 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Aqualung (11-7) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Argentato 50-1 (11-1) Led and set slow pace, hung left on bend after 4th, headed 5th, behind from next, last of 7, well behind Dreamy Sweeney (11-1) at Kempton 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Ariodante 250-1 (11-0) Led, carried wide and headed on bend approaching 5th, ridden 6th, weakened next, 5th of 11, 22l behind Art Trend (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) fm in Mar.
Countrywide Dream (IRE) 66-1 (8-5) In touch, ridden 4f out, soon weakened, last of 5, 41l behind Society Music (8-13) at Musselburgh 7f 2yo nov stk (5) gf in Jun '04 (flat).
Tanner Towers 100-1 (11-3) Chased leaders until after 5th, behind from next, pulled up after 7th, in a race won by Giles Cross (11-9) at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar, 10 ran.
The Wedding Horse (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Held up in 5th, tracked leaders 4th, weakened 3 out, lost moderate 3rd flat, 4th of 6, 27l behind Michel Le Bon (11-8) at Newbury 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Tuskar Rock (FR) 11-4fav (11-2) Always prominent, ridden after 2 out, stayed on same pace last, 3rd of 15, 4l behind Pickamus (11-2) at Hereford 2m 1f NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb.
Wilkinson (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) In rear when fell 5th, in a race won by Horseford Hill (10-11) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd, 14 ran.
Double Hit 20-1 (10-1) Led, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened soon after, 8th of 13, 30l behind Argento Luna (11-0) at Newbury 2m 5f mrs nov hcp hdl (4yo+) (1) gd in Mar.
Mrs Burke (IRE) 80-1 (10-6) Mid-division, outpaced when took wrong course after bypass 7th, soon struggling behind when blundered 2 out (disqualified for taking wrong course), in a race won by Etxalar (10-11) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Mar, 9 ran.
Nomore (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 12, 49l behind Speed Bonnie Boat (10-10) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Mysortofman Alflora gelding out of Charlotte Gray.
