tracked leaders, mistake 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened and hit next
in touch, ridden to chase winner 3 out, no impression from next
in touch, led 4 out, clear next, hit 2 out, idled flat
always in rear
led, headed 3rd, chased leader after, ridden and weakened before 3 out
held up, headway to track leaders 4 out, hampered bend soon after and saddle slipped, soon pulled up
close up, mistake 2nd, led 3rd, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened next
Changing Lanes, King Cyrus and ORTEGA are all looking for back to back wins, and we're siding with the last named, running for John Cornwall. With son Joseph on board with his seven pounds claim, he's got more than a stone in hand on the top weight King Cyrus, and almost as much on Changing Lanes. He's the consistent sort, with last month's win over further when chasing at Southwell ending a string of 2s and 3s to his name. Rain's forecast for the weekend, which wouldn't harm his chances and the step down in trip looks a positive. Changing Lanes survived a mistake last time out to win at Wetherby earlier in the month; the yard's in form, but the likely rain won't help. King Cyrus won last time out when making his chasing debut (like Ortega) having never previously won over hurdles, but maybe that was the sort of confidence boost he needed, and should be involved here. Sparkling Montjeu should go well too in this sort of company, but our preference is for Ortega.
King Cyrus (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Made virtually all, ridden 3 out, stayed on strongly flat, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf beating Marked Man (11-4) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Changing Lanes 4-1fav (10-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, in 2nd when mistake 2 out, stayed on to lead near finish, won at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf beating Moon Melody (9-11) by 2l, 13 ran.
Sparkling Montjeu (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden after 3rd, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 10, 14l behind Je Ne Sais Plus (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gf.
Ortega (FR) 11-2 (9-7) Raced keenly, tracked leader, left in lead 6th, joined 2 out, soon ridden, held on under pressure flat, won at Southwell 3m 2f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in Apr beating Cannon Fire (11-7) by shd, 11 ran.
Albert Park (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Close up, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 16, well behind Friends Of Tina (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Lupita (IRE) 5-1fav (10-13) Mid-division, headway after 7th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 16, 25l behind Passato (11-6) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Light Entertainer 5-1 (10-0) With leader, until 4 out, soon weakened, behind and pulled up last, in a race won by Cobbler's Queen (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf, 10 ran.
Supreme Team (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) Chased leaders, outpaced soon after 3 out, beaten when hit next, 7th of 11, 14l behind Job One (11-7) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
