held up in rear, pushed along and headway after 3 out, ridden approaching last, no impression
close up, led 3rd, blundered 5th and headed, soon pushed along, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, headway after 2 out, soon ridden, no impression
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out
led, mistake 2nd, headed 3rd, mistake 5th, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to chase leaders approaching 2 out, no impression when not fluent last
tracked leaders and keen, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
close up, chased leader approaching 3 out, ridden and one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders on outer, led 5th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear on inside, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, chased winner last, kept on towards finish, just failed
held up mid-division, headway to lead approaching 3 out, ridden approaching last, just held on
Russian Epic is in the right hands and on his flat rating appears well-handicapped but on what we've seen of the horse now may not be the time to catch him. Instead we'll side with ROYAL MAX, who is weighted to win if able to recapture his best and recent indications are that he's heading back in the right direction. Last time at Market Rasen he ran well enough when gambled on and, with the drop in grade and stiffer test likely to suit, this represents his best chance for a while. Lemon Silk is thrown in on his 2007 form and needs a close check in the market as does Miller's Dawn now headgear is reached for. The Wee Midget looked fortunate to win at Towcester but will not fail for a lack of stamina and nor will Princess Flame in a race where several appear nicely treated if able to return to form.
Dark Energy 25-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 14th of 17, well behind Court Red Handed (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Predateur (FR) 40-1 (11-12) Close up in outside, lost place 6th, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 10, 39l behind Rathcor (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Russian Epic 7-2 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 2 out, led and hit last, headed close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Horseford Hill (10-11) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr '09.
Royal Max (IRE) 5-2fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 3 out, every chance flat, no extra towards finish, 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Cubism (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Sep.
Mud Monkey 25-1 (10-11) Led at strong pace, 20 lengths clear after 2nd, reduced lead before 3 out, headed and weakened soon after, tailed off, 7th of 12, 33l behind Earth Dream (9-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar '09.
Maurisca (FR) 4-1 (11-9) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway 7th (water), hit 9th, led 3 out (water), soon headed, 3 lenghts down and looking held when landed very awkwardly last, no impression after, 2nd of 12, 9l behind Magical Harry (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Party Palace 14-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, kept on from 2 out, no impression, 5th of 15, 9l behind Cantabilly (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
John's Gift 6-1 (10-11) Chased leader, ridden to narrow lead after 3 out, headed when hit 2 out, ridden between last 2, held in 3rd when left 2nd last, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Kateal (10-7) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Miller's Dawn 8-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression from next, 4th of 14, 18l behind Entertain Me (10-7) at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gf in May.
Princess Flame (GER) 5-1 (10-7) Chased clear winner, closed up 6th, driven to challenge last, kept on under pressure flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind The Good Guy (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
The Wee Midget 11-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, went 2 lenghts 2nd last, led flat, driven out, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd beating Crystal Prince (11-2) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Captain Becket 33-1 (10-3) Held up mid-division, outpaced from 4 out, no impression from 3 out, 7th of 15, 13l behind Cantabilly (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Lemon Silk (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Held up, pushed along 4th, headway after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Nono Le Sage (10-2) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Mar.
