tracked leader, led after 8th, headed next, soon under pressure and weakened
held up towards rear, raced keenly, chased leaders 3 out, soon weakened
led, headed before 3 out, soon under pressure and weakened
held up in touch, headway before 8th, led on bit 3 out, clear next, very easily
held up towards rear, fell 5th
tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, hampered by faller 5th, soon pulled up
PARADISE EXPECTED can come up with the answers in the opener although market support for Rhetorical would sound the alarm bell. Both yards are adept at placing their horses and they could dominate a race in which recent form is thin on the ground. Rhetorical is still a maiden after sixteen starts over hurdles but came as close as he has ever done in a Ludlow seller when last seen and will surely be primed to run a big race. Paradise Expected is having his first run for a yard that is four from seven here so whilst his form for his previous connections may not amount to a great deal it would be no great surprise to see a vastly improved showing here. There is very little to commend the remainder although Princess Stephanie is at least a course and distance winner, albeit a long time ago. This won't take a great deal of winning and Paradise Expected is expected to have little trouble in landing the spoils.
Something Gold (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, lost place from 8th, stayed on from 2 out, no impression, 4th of 12, 23l behind North Island (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (5) gs in Dec.
Princess Stephanie 20-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, good headway to chase leader approaching 3 out, led next, soon clear, ran on flat, won at Fakenham 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Mar '07 beating Travello (11-7) by 6l, 11 ran.
Rhetorical 7-1 (10-9) Led, ridden after 4 out, headed and outpaced approaching 3 out, rallied flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Park Drive (10-12) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Nov '07.
Storm Haven 20-1 (11-7) Prominent early, behind 4th, pulled up after next pulled up 4 out in race won by Tarkesar (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl (5) sft in Dec, 17 ran.
Gouranga 25-1 (10-5) Held up, outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, 3rd of 7, 34l behind Classic Moon (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Purr 40-1 (9-9) Soon tailed off, ridden along and pulled up 4 out in race won by Little Shilling (10-8) at Fakenham 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov, 12 ran.
Mysterious Green (FR) 200-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, weakened after 4 out, 10th of 14, well behind Banquet (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Paradise Expected 10-1 (10-10) In touch until weakened after 7th, 11th of 17, 47l behind Ruling Reef (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Apr.