held up in 4th, pushed along before 2 out, weakened before last
tracked winner, ridden after last, weakened and lost 2nd place run-in
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden after last, kept on to chase winner run-in, always held
made all, hit 9th, ridden after last, kept on well
held up towards rear, headway to go 4th before last, one pace and no impression
in rear, weakened from 4 out
held up towards rear, hit 8th, soon reminders, never dangerous
Kalahari King's presence in this means that all bar the top two, including stablemate De Boitron, are racing from out of the handicap proper. Ferdy Murphy's 10-year-old is a class act on his day but doesn't win very often although his stable did have a double at Hexham on Friday. Lucinda Russell is struggling for winners at present so Tchico Polos may be best watched on his first start for the yard, though it's only a year since he won the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter. Sa Suffit may need this but STAGECOACH PEARL is capable of going well fresh and would have finished ahead of Premier Sagas at Ayr in April had he not fallen at the last. Sue Smith's grey gets the nod here.
Kalahari King (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Held up towards rear, outpaced before 11th, mistake 5 out, never dangerous, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Master Minded (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Tchico Polos (FR) 5-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, hit 4th, ridden after 3 out, one pace and no impression from next, 5th of 13, 14l behind Silk Drum (9-9) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Sa Suffit (FR) 13-2 (11-2) Chased leaders on inner, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 36l behind Knockara Beau (11-12) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Stagecoach Pearl 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 1st or 3rd, led after 8th, ridden and headed 3 out, not fluent 2 out, 2nd beaten when fell last, in a race won by Gilbarry (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Premier Sagas (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Led until 4th, prominent, no impression approaching 4 out, weakened before next, mistake 2 out, 6th of 7, well behind Gilbarry (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
De Boitron (FR) 6-1 (9-11) Took keen hold, held up, went 3rd 5th, closed 3 out, unable to quicken from 2 out, well held flat, 3rd of 5, 11l behind Poquelin (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Tartan Snow 18-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, closed 10th, hit next, 5th and well held 3 out, 5th of 10, 18l behind Door Boy (10-9) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
