held up towards rear, headway 8f out, outpaced by leaders over 3f out, well beaten 4th over 2f out
towards rear, ran green and lost touch final 10f, tailed off
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 8f out, ridden 6f out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden 6f out, weakened over 5f out, tailed off
mid-division, headway over 11f out, went 2nd going well 5f out, nudged into lead entering final furlong, comfortably
led, ridden and edged left 2f out, headed entering final furlong, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, ridden over 5f out, outpaced over 3f out, well beaten 3rd over 2f out
prominent, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
Closest Friend was beaten over 20l on debut but he still had plenty more behind him than in front. His stable has hit a good run of form recently and Stevie Sanders takes off a useful 10lb. He should come on for the run but FORT WORTH represents very powerful connections and the Presenting gelding ran well enough on his point-to-point debut in April to suggest he should be up to landing an ordinary bumper such as this. Newforge House is out of 1998 Derby winner High-Rise and has shown enough in two bumper starts to be on the premises whilst the market should prove the best guide as to the chances of the remainder.
Closest Friend 4-1 (11-10) In touch in mid-division, took keen hold, closed on inside going well over 5f out, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 14, 22l behind Sidbury Hill (11-3) at Worcester 2m mdn nat hunt flat (6) sft in Oct.
Crowd Control (IRE) Oscar gelding out of Apollo Lady.
Dorton Lad (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway on outside 8f out, weakened over 5f out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Sign Of A Victory (11-2) at Ludlow 2m NH flat (5) gd.
Flash Tommie (IRE) City Honours gelding out of African Keys.
Fort Worth (IRE) 7-4 (11-7) Ww rr, 10th by 5th, fair 8th aftr 4out, so from 2out, nev a dngr, 4th of 13, 11l behind No More Heroes (11-7) at Dromahane 3m ire ptp in Apr.
Newforge House (IRE) 7-2fav (11-2) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 9, 18l behind Wyfield Rose (10-9) at Towcester 1m 5f mdn NH flat (6) gf in Oct.
Abijoe Fair Mix filly out of Casewick Mist.
Roxy Madam 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 7f out, weakened over 3f out, 12th of 15, 44l behind The Road Ahead (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mares n h flat (6) gd in May.
