tracked leader, led 4th, kept on under pressure from 2 out, driven out
tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, disputing 2nd when mistake 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
hit 1st, mid-division until weakened 5th, tailed off
mid-division, headway after 6th, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on but always held
led until 4th, prominent, squeezed out and lost place 6th, weakening when not fluent 3 out
mid-division until weakened 5th, tailed off
in touch, headway 5th, went 2nd next, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next
never fluent and always in rear, tailed off
Qrackers is the one to beat and gets the vote despite the presence of a couple of interesting rivals. Cavallini arrives fit from the Flat and his one run over hurdles came in a Grade 2 contest where he showed precious little; it would be no surprise to see him go well here though. Invention and Sam Lord have both shown ability with the latter more exposed and seemingly hard to win with. Nothing Is Forever and Sharp Dresser have both won over hurdles already. The latter was hardpressed to win at Cartmel last time but was very game and the first two pulled a long way clear of the remainder. Nothing Is Forever beat a stablemate of Invention's with relative ease at Exeter, should have more to come and the form should stand up. That pair are respected but the selection put a poor run behind him to win as he liked over course and distance last time. That was a most impressive performance and you'd be mad to oppose Qrackers.
Qrackers (FR) 11-8fav (11-0) Chased leader, led approaching 6th, went clear on bit 3 out, eased from last, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gd in May beating Abutilon (10-9) by 17l, 13 ran.
Nothing Is Forever (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Jumped left, tracked leader, led 4th, went badly left last, edged right, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in May beating Alaghiraar (10-5) by 1l, 15 ran.
Sharp Dresser (USA) 11-10fav (10-7) Held up in touch, led after 4th, hard ridden flat, all out, won at Cartmel 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in May beating Auenschutze (10-12) by a hd, 11 ran.
Ballerino 100-1 (10-11) Chased leader, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened, 9th of 16, 40l behind Fistral Beach (10-13) at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (6) gs in Apr.
Cavallini (USA) 28-1 (11-2) Chased leader to 3rd, ridden and lost place 5th, soon tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Shatabdi (10-13) at Kempton 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb '07.
Height of Spirits 100-1 (10-12) Slowly into stride, pulled hard in rear, weakened 5th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Qrackers (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gd in May, 13 ran.
Invention (USA) 50-1 (11-0) Held up, headway after 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 24l behind Song of Songs (11-0) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Valence Lad (IRE) Lord of Appeal gelding out of 6f & 7f winner Crown Point.
Brushford (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Took keen hold, held up, weakened 7th, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Stellenbosch (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gf in May.
Sam Lord 3-1 (11-5) Chased clear leading pair, ridden to chase winner 3 out, challenging when not fluent last, held near finish, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Back To The Wind (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Sister Agnes (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 7, well behind No Panic (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in May.
