chased leaders on inside, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along 10f out, lost place 6f out
mid-division on inside, closer tracking leaders over 4f out, ridden 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, went 2nd near finish
pulled hard tracking leaders, weakened over 3f out
mid-division, headway tracking leaders 10f out, 2nd going well over 3f out, every chance 2f out, weakened tamely final furlong
held up and behind, headway on outside chasing leaders over 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong until no extra and lost 2nd near finish
with leader and keen, led 4f out, strongly pressed from 2f out, kept on gamely throughout final furlong
flashed tail early, mid-division, hung left and outpaced 4f out, no threat after
held up towards rear, plugged on final 2f, no threat
held up and behind, rapid headway on outside chasing leaders 6f out, weakened over 2f out
always towards rear, never on terms
led until 4f out, lost 2nd over 3f out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
With several nicely-bred newcomers in the line-up, this is a race which should provide plenty of clues. A Book Of Intrigue has Brodie Hampson’s claim in is favour but might struggle to give the weight away. Cubao probably didn’t beat much at Ludlow in May but Gastara was second over course and distance that month and that effort ranks alongside The Big Yin’s run at Uttoxeter. Glenlivet is a brother to useful hurdler/chaser Knockgraffon while Butte Montana is by Presenting out of a winning bumper. Everglow and Buckhorn George look decent long-term prospects but we’ll take a chance on SAINT ARVANS, who is a brother to several winners over jumps and on the Flat and may have more pace than most of the others.
Cubao (IRE) 6-4fav (11-4) Always prominent, led over 2f out, stayed on strongly, won at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in May beating Amanofhisword (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Buckhorn George Geordieland gelding out of Waimea Bay.
Everglow Presenting gelding out of Cent Prime.
Gastara 20-1 (10-8) Keen, chased leaders, led 5f out, hung left and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 16, 2 3/4l behind One Touch (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (5) gs in Apr.
Glenlivet (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Gleaming Spire.
Kilbrook (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Mid-div, 3rd 1/2way, disp 2nd 5out, 2nd 2out, chsd ldr bef last, kow, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Grandads Cottage (11-11) at Portrush 3m mdn gd in Mar.
Make Me A Believer (IRE) 2-1 (11-11) Chsd ldrs in 3rd, 2nd frm 5th, 5l 2nd 5out, 4l 2nd when fell 3out, at Ballyarthur 3m mdn sft in Mar.
Oscar Robertson (IRE) 7-4 (12-2) Rr of mid-div, 8th 1/2way, prog aftr 4out, 1l adv aft 3out, wo aft 2out, jnd last, no ex & hdd flat, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Offtheshoulder (12-2) at Cragmore 3m mdn gs in Feb.
Oscars Moonshine (IRE) Oscar gelding out of Scrapper Jack.
Saint Arvans (FR) Motivator gelding out of Castellina.
Skylanna Breeze (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Pr, 4th 1/2way, ld aftr 3out, hdd bef 2out, no ch with easy wnr in 10l 2nd bef last, ko flat, 2nd of 11, 10l behind The Big Breakaway (11-12) at Quakerstown 3m mdn gd in Apr.
The Big Yin 25-1 (11-2) Pressed winner, strong challenge final 2f, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 5, nk behind Moroder (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m (5) hvy in Mar.
A Book Of Intrigue 11-2 (11-7) Keen early, tracked leader, effort over 2f out, ridden to lead when hung left inside final furlong, driven out, kept on, won at Fontwell 2m 2f (5) gs in Jun beating Winter Holiday (10-7) by 3l, 6 ran.
Butte Montana (IRE) Presenting gelding out of My Cool Lady.
Litigate (IRE) Shantaram gelding out of Spin The Wheel.
Robsam (IRE) 11-1 (10-7) Held up, closed after 3f, pushed along 8f out, weakened over 4f out, 6th of 7, 32 1/4l behind First Lord De Cuet (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 2f (5) gs in Mar.
