raced keenly, held up in touch, headway 7th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, weakened last
close up on outside, lost place 7th, no danger after
led until blundered and unseated rider 6th
close up on inside, left 2nd 6th, smooth headway to lead 4 out, stayed on well unextended (last flight bypassed)
tracked leader, left in lead 6th, headed 4 out, ridden and kept on from last, no impression
held up, outpaced 4 out, ridden and kept on same pace from 2 out, never near leaders
held up, headway 4 out, 3rd and staying on when carried wide by loose horse after last, ridden and kept on flat
in touch, lost place and behind 6th, some headway when not fluent 3 out, stayed on same pace, no impression
behind, pushed along from 4th, struggling when jumped right and unseated rider 6th
chased leaders, lost place 7th, soon struggling, behind from 4 out
Nonrunner
The quicker ground won't help Don't Ask Me here and we will oppose the likely favourite with I'm Your Man, who has slipped to a handy mark. Evelyn Slack's grey stays pretty well and although he has not won for almost two years, he has now slipped back to a mark 7lb lower than that last win. Fast ground and this sort of trip suit and from this attractive mark he can win again. Don't Ask Me is respected, and he certainly stays at least this far. However, although he hasn't performed badly on fast ground he definitely shows his best form on a slower surface so we'll field against him. Boulevardofdreams hails from a yard with a great record here but he has shown nothing in three runs so far since a long absence and you'd be hard pressed to fancy him. Toulouse Express has some ability but reserves his best for when there is cut in the ground, and Jim The Gent, who relishes a fast surface, looks capable of a return to form now he has been dropped 3lb. Not an easy race to solve for punters but the suggestion here is I'm Your Man.
Jim The Gent (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Always towards rear, 6th of 8, 40l behind Accordello (11-4) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Led, headed bewteen last 2, soon no chance, 2nd of 6, 18l behind Macchiato (10-2) at Hexham 2m sll hdl (5) hvy.
I'm Your Man 12-1 (10-12) In rear, some headway 8th, ridden 3 out, never near leaders, 6th of 15, 31l behind Major Malarkey (11-5) at Perth 3m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Don't Ask Me (IRE) 3-1 (10-5) Led 3rd, clear 7th, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Nostringsattached (11-0) at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
Humourous (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Always behind, 9th of 15, 49l behind The Great Alfie (10-11) at Perth 3m nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Hapthor 5-2 (11-12) A handy; led app 3 out; stayed on wl, won at Aspatria 3m ptp gf beating Tomopolly (12-5) by 12l, 7 ran.
Queen of Diamonds (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Always behind, 11th of 14, 47l behind Cash On Friday (10-9) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
Compton Commander 50-1 (10-3) Towards rear, ridden when mistake and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Smart Man (10-0) at Catterick 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Dec, 14 ran.
Talesofriverbank 28-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 12th of 24, well behind Lily Tara (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 7f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Apr.
Billsgrey (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Lady Sambury (9-13) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs, 12 ran.
Boulevardofdreams (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up, mistake 4th, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Cnoc Moy (10-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar, 7 ran.
