took keen hold, held up in last pair, headway on inside into 3rd 2f out, soon switched left, ridden over 1f out, plugged on, no chance with leading duo
tracked winner until approaching halfway, chased leading pair, pushed along over 3f out, lost 3rd 2f out, weakened soon after
tracked leading pair, 2nd approaching halfway, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, outbattled final 100 yards
took keen hold, held up in last pair, ridden and weakened over 2f out
made all, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and pressed over 1f out, battled on gamely and on top final 100 yards
Nonrunner
Glenalmond and Air Of York were both engaged here yesterday. Fire Tree has only won on the all-weather so far but was close up when favourite at Nottingham three weeks ago and has decent claims along with Wolverhampton runner-up Wink Oliver. Even aged 12, Shifting Star still keeps churning out the performances and is very effective here, as is Bloodsweatandtears. STORMBOUND steps up a grade and is 6lb higher than when scoring over course and distance eight days ago but he won in a canter so a follow-up looks on the cards.
Wink Oliver 16-1 (9-1) Held up rear division, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Athassel (9-8) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Tarseekh 66-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 13, 5 1/2l behind Commodity (9-7) at Windsor 1m hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Stormbound (IRE) 5-2fav (9-12) In touch on outside, caught wide over 3f out, headway chasing leaders when badly bumped approaching final 2f, edged left ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Brighton 1m hcp (6) gf in Apr beating Jonnie Skull (8-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
Air Of York (IRE) 16-1 (8-8) Towards rear, driven and headway on outside over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 11, 1/2l behind Anonymous John (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Shifting Star (IRE) 8-1 (8-7) Led and raced keenly, pressed from 2f out, kept on gamely final furlong, headed towards finish, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Commodity (9-7) at Windsor 1m hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Fire Tree (IRE) 5-2fav (9-7) Slowly into stride, soon recovered chasing leaders on inside, pushed along over 3f out, outpaced inside final 2f, rallied inside final furlong, stayed on, never quite finding pace to challenge, 5th of 12, 1/2l behind Cosmic Ray (8-8) at Nottingham 1m hcp (5) gf in Apr.
Glenalmond (IRE) 10-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, headway on outer over 2f out, one pace and no impression, 7th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Mornington (8-12) at Brighton 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Apr.
Bloodsweatandtears 11-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden and headway inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Shifting Star (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Mar.
