chased winner, ridden and no impression after last, stayed on same pace
chased leaders on inside, not fluent 5th, soon ridden and weakened, not fluent and well beaten 3 out
made all, clear after 3rd until before 3 out, clear again after last, unchallenged
held up in rear, dived at 3rd, headway 5th, stayed on same pace approaching last
mid-division, effort 3 out, mistake 2 out, weakened before last
prominent, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, outpaced before last, faded on run-in
held up in rear, stayed on from last, went 4th towards finish
Four last-time winners and the remaining three with respectable chances makes for a competitive contest. Lovato and Bryony Frost will prove a popular combination but the Newland gelding does have his fair share of weight. Indeed, CANFORD THOMPSON makes considerable appeal from the polar end of the weights after coming home strongly here last time when runner-up to course and distance winner Beeno. Both command respect but the Hammond inmate is preferred at the revised weights. Codeshare won comfortably last time whereas Lookforarainbow made heavy work of things but the feeling is that both need to eke out a little more to take this contest.
Lovato (GER) 4-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, challenging from 2 out, led flat, stayed on, won at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul beating The Vollan (10-12) by 1l, 6 ran.
Beach Break 13-2 (11-6) Led, blundered 2 out, soon headed, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 7l behind Lovato (11-6) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Beeno (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) Led until after 2 out, soon rallied, led again after last, held on gamely, won at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jun beating Canford Thompson (10-8) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Lookforarainbow 11-4jfav (11-11) Held up in last trio, steady headway tracking leaders approaching 6th, 2nd travelling well between last 2, led and hung left last, in command run-in, won at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jun beating Jane Lamb (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Codeshare 11-10fav (11-9) Tracked leaders in 4th, 2nd bypassing 2 out, led bypassing last, kept on well, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jun beating Belmont Jewel (11-1) by 5l, 7 ran.
Think Ahead 9-2 (11-11) Chased leaders, effort 2 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Reivers Lodge (10-12) at Perth 2m hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Canford Thompson 10-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 2 out, chased leaders last, stayed on into 2nd closing stages, never reached winner, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Beeno (11-10) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
