chased winner 2nd until before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
chased leaders, closed 10th, ridden 12th, driven before 4 out, hung left and beaten 2 out, weakened flat
not fluent in rear, well beaten from 14th, blundered 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
chased winner until 2nd, stayed handy, went 2nd again before 4 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on
chased leaders on outside, mistake and lost place 12th, struggling next, pulled up after 14th
held up in rear, closed 11th, mistake 13th, went 3rd from 4 out, no impression on winner 2 out, kept on
jumped well, made all, clear 2 out, stayed on well
behind, not fluent 1st, headway 14th, held 4 out, went never dangerous 4th flat
mid-division, struggling 14th, tailed off
Shantou Village often attracts market support but his completion rate if off-putting and he hasn’t won since 2018. Aaron Lad could be interesting back over fences after a couple of runs over hurdles and the penny has finally dropped with Ocean Cove, though he needs plenty of urging. LANDOFSMILES looks more straightforward and was a winner over course and distance early last month before completing his hat-trick at Perth. Another 6lb rise is not going to make life easy but he turns up here with the best recent form. Minella Bobo was head of Ocean Cove at Newbury in March having won earlier at Hereford and he wears cheekpieces for the first time today.
Aaron Lad (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Prominent and disputed lead, tracked leader after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened and never involved, 10th of 12, 32 1/4l behind Ask Dillon (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Ocean Cove (IRE) 13-8fav (12-2) Held up behind leaders, not fluent 13th, ridden to chase leader before 4 out, 2nd but well adrift 2 out, stayed on without troubling winner flat, 2nd of 4, 8 1/2l behind Schnabel (10-11) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Theligny (FR) 28-1 (12-0) Held up in 6th on inside, hit 4 out and weakened quickly, tailed off, 6th of 10, 23 1/4l behind Sultans Pride (10-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Landofsmiles (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Prominent, shaken up before 2 out, ridden before last, led on run-in, readily, won at Perth 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr beating Do Not Disturb (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Shantou Village (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, closed 4 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, dist behind Kitty's Light (11-4) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Gwencily Berbas (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, slight mistake 8th, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra after 3 out, no threat in straight, kept on one pace, 7th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Minella Times (11-10) at Listowel 2m 6f hcp sft in Sep.
Minella Bobo (IRE) 9-2jfav (10-9) Soon led, hit 4 out, headed 3 out, lost 3rd and no extra last, 5th of 10, 16 1/4l behind Mac Tottie (11-0) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Looks Like Power (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Led after 1st, headed 8th, weakened from 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, dist behind J'Ai Froid (11-10) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Holdbacktheriver (IRE) 3-1 (10-5) Close up in rear, reminders 10th, ridden and outpaced 2 out, last of 5, 32 1/2l behind Flemcara (11-12) at Stratford 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
