behind, smooth headway and every chance last, ridden flat and led near finish
held up, chasing leaders when hit 3 out, ridden and soon beaten
held up, ridden 3 out and soon beaten
prominent, ridden and every chance 3 out, headway to lead last, driven and kept on, headed close home
held up, ridden to chase leaders approaching last, kept on one pace flat
chased leading pair, ridden 2 out, one pace from last
led and soon clear until 5th, ridden after 2 out, headed last and kept on one pace flat
Nonrunner
There should be little to choose between SOLIS and Nevsky Bridge on their recent respective form behind Pete but marginal preference is for the former who gets the vote with the main danger rated as Ethan's Star. The last mentioned was slightly disappointing at Ayr last time but he has slipped to a fair mark now and has to be considered off a 1lb lower mark than when a close third at the same venue previously. Janal belied odds of 50/1 when winning at Catterick in February but has disappointed off higher marks since then and may do so again here, while Peter Beaumont's King Mak has yet to translate chase form to the smaller obstacles. Emotive has been well held in recent starts and preference is for Solis. Peter Monteith's gelding ran encouragingly when five lengths behind Pete here at the beginning of the month and, with the winner that day having beaten Nevsky Bridge off a 7lb higher mark a week later, he is taken to go one better today.
Nevsky Bridge 9-2 (10-11) Held up in touch, steady headway 2 out, challenged last, kept on to chase winner last, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Pete (10-6) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Solis (GER) 10-3 (11-9) Mid-division, smooth headway and every chance 3 out, led next, blundered badly and headed last, ridden and one pace flat, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Pete (10-13) at Kelso 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gd.
Copper's Gold (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Never better than mid-division, 8th of 15, 22l behind Dancing Mist (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Ethan's Star (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Led and clear to 6th, headed next, mistake and lost place 7th, no danger after, 6th of 8, 25l behind Solway Sunset (10-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Emotive 33-1 (10-6) Behind, headway and in touch 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 18, 35l behind And Whatever Else (11-4) at Perth 3m 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Executive Xpress 10-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, every chance 4 out, ridden and weakened from next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Pete (10-13) at Kelso 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gd, 8 ran.
Janal (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Chased leaders to 3rd, soon behind, weakened 2 out, 5th of 13, 12l behind Upright Ima (11-5) at Hexham 2m mrs hcp hdl (0-105) (4) gf in Apr.
King Mak 25-1 (11-3) Tracked winner, hit 6th, every chance 2 out, ridden and soon weakened, 7th of 9, 27l behind Still At Lunch (10-7) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
