chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, effort and not much room 4f out, weakened over 3f out
held up mid-division, stayed on well from over 1f out, took 3rd inside final furlong
slowly away, held up in rear, headway 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to lead towards finish
led for one furlong, chased leaders until weakened 3f out
in touch, headway to lead over 2f out, soon ridden, edged right over final furlong, headed towards finish
held up towards rear, headway 4f out, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, headway 3f out, soon ridden, one pace final furlong
led after 1f, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
Birkside has shown improved form on the Polytrack of late and returns to turf on a fair mark 3lbs lower than when successful at Wolverhampton in January but he may still be too high and preference is for Puy d'Arnac, who gets the vote with Bukit Tinggi rated the pick of the remainder. The selection was good value for his win here last month and, while disappointing at Nottingham subsequently, Alan Swinbank's gelding is better than he showed that day and looks worth chancing back on Town Moor. Red Wine has a bit to find with the selection on running here last month, while Lets Roll looks on a fair mark but does tend to reserve his best form for Ayr. Bukit Tinggi is less exposed than most of these and has to be respected on his reappearance on a surface that suits but preference is for Puy d'Arnac, who is taken to resume winning ways.
Lets Roll 14-1 (9-1) Mid-division until weakened over 1f out, 13th of 14, 11l behind Double Banded (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Apr.
Birkside 4-1 (9-6) Steadied start, held up, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, switched right well over 1f out, led final furlong, edged left, ran on well, won at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan beating Jack Rolfe (8-11) by 2l, 7 ran.
Puy d'Arnac (FR) 2-1fav (8-5) Held up in touch, effort over 3f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 14, 7l behind Double Banded (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Apr.
Command Marshal (FR) 10-1 (9-9) Prominent, ridden 3f out, no chance with leading pair over 1f out, 3rd of 6, 13l behind Prelude (8-8) at Chester 1m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Jul.
Red Wine 7-2 (9-3) Held up, headway on outer over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 6l behind Force Group (8-13) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) hvy in Apr.
Stolen Light (IRE) 13-2 (9-13) Held up, headway to lead over 4f out, ridden and headed 3f out, one pace final 2f, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Flame Creek (10-1) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec '06.
Bukit Tinggi (IRE) 13-8fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 1 1/2l behind Estate (9-13) at Musselburgh 2m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Nov.
Abstract Folly (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, held up, behind, switched sharply right entering straight, progress shortly after, never near leaders, 6th of 10, 9l behind Aphorism (8-12) at Warwick 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Oct.
Flame Creek (IRE) 25-1 (7-13) Mid-divison, headway 3f out, led 2f out, edged left and stayed on well final furlong, ridden out, won at Newbury 2m hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Apr beating Winged d'Argent (9-6) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Stoop To Conquer 33-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 14l behind Flame Creek (7-13) at Newbury 2m hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Apr.
Charlotte Vale 16-1 (9-7) In touch, ridden over 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Puy d'Arnac (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Apr.
