COURT BALOO bids for a fourth course victory and the ground may have dried out sufficiently for the 10-year-old to take advantage of a tumbling mark with champion conditional Danny McMenamin a significant jockey booking. Kilganer Queen got back to winning ways at Sedgefield 11 days ago but will need to overcome an 8lb rise and Lulu Baloo has gone up 9lb for winning a novices’ handicap at Newcastle three weeks ago, though remains unexposed. Monte Alban has been chasing but Tour De Pub has reverted to hurdles lately and is not without a chance.
Lulu Baloo 16-1 (11-6) Chased leader, joined leader 4 out, travelled well into lead 2 out, ridden before last, went clear after last, won at Newcastle 3m hcp (5) gd in Apr beating Shaka The King (11-7) by 6 1/2l, 11 ran.
Kilganer Queen (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Towards rear, headway to track leaders after 3 out, disputing 2nd 2 out and pushed along to chase leader run to the last, made strong challenge at the last and soon led, pushed out run-in, cosy, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Apr beating Just A Sip (11-11) by 6 1/2l, 9 ran.
Coup De Gold (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Chased leader, ridden 3f out, weakened 1f out, 8th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Well Planted (9-9) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Apr.
McCrackens Gate (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Off the pace towards rear of mid-division, reminders after 9th, soon weakened, 7th of 11, dist behind Whoa Black Betty (11-4) at Newcastle 3m hcp (5) gd in Mar.
Blossoming Forth (IRE) 16-1 (11-13) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, 4th halfway, pushed along and no extra after 3 out, weakened, tailed off, 8th of 14, dist behind Quarry Lil (11-11) at Clonmel 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Court Baloo (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Close-up, driven after 7th, contested lead 3 out, pushed before 2 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 5th of 8, 34 3/4l behind Galuppi (11-8) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Harrisons Promise 16-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd 5th until next, weakened soon after, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Burrows Diamond (10-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Shaughnessy 11-1 (11-8) With leaders, not fluent 3 out, pushed along before next, kept on one pace from last, 4th of 9, 3l behind Golan Cloud (10-13) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Veshenskaya (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, effort after 4 out, no impression 3 out, stayed on flat, 5th of 14, 9 1/2l behind Iwasthefutureonce (10-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Dubh Des Champs (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Pressed leader, led narrowly 2nd, ridden and headed before 3 out, still chance next, lost 2nd soon after and weakened between last 2, left modest 4th and hampered last, weakened into 5th run-in, 5th of 11, 8 3/4l behind Bridey's Lettuce (10-10) at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Monte Alban (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Midfield, headway to chase clear leaders 5th, ridden after 4 out, almost upsides last, faded flat, 4th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Shanroe Street (11-9) at Hexham 3m hcp (5) gd in Apr.
More Music (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Midfield, ridden and lost ground 2nd, tailed off 4th, pulled up, at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Tour De Pub (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) In touch, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 14 1/4l behind Oksana (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Fair Minx 28-1 (11-5) In touch, not fluent 5th, went prominent next, led briefly after 3 out, soon headed, weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 7l behind Golan Cloud (10-13) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Ballyfarsoon (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Jumped right at times in rear, headway on outside before 7th, lost place approaching 4 out, soon behind, 11th of 13, dist behind Rukwa (11-12) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Clouncerna (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Midfield, jumped big 7th, nudged along approaching 2 out, no extra before last, 7th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Golan Cloud (10-13) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Tekiblue de L'Orme (FR) 7-1 (11-1) Chased leader who went clear 3rd, closer 7th, led before 4 out until before next, pushed along chasing leaders, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 11, dist behind Whoa Black Betty (11-4) at Newcastle 3m hcp (5) gd in Mar.
Donna's Diva 33-1 (11-2) Raced keenly in mid-division on inside, outpaced before 3 out, 8th of 12, dist behind Aptly Put (11-11) at Newcastle 3m hcp (5) gd in Mar.