chased leading trio, weakened 3 out, soon eased, tailed off and pulled up before next
led until 4 out, outpaced in 4th after next, rallied from 2 out, went modest 3rd close home
held up, reached for 2nd, pushed along and some headway before 2 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, went 3rd 2 out, tracked going well between last 2, upsides last, produced to lead final 150 yards, coaxed along and ran on well
in touch on inside, some headway before 2 out, weakened soon after 2 out
tracked leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened before last, lost modest 3rd close home
chased leading pair, led 2 out, ridden and joined last, headed and not quicken final 150 yards
pecked 1st, always behind, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up in last trio, headway to join leaders after 4th, led 4 out until next, weakened soon after 2 out
Bathwick Man has been tumbling down the weights and will probably pop up when least expected. Extremely So did well in her first season but may just need this, while Balerina has her first start since finishing tailed off at Newton Abbot in May. Tony McCoy is an interesting booking for Fontwell fourth Ray Diamond and he's preferred to the lightly-raced Finch Flyer but FIRST AVENUE has been running well enough to suggest he can win his first race since March 2009 as long as the ground doesn't get any softer.
Balerina (FR) 15-2 (11-3) Mid-division, mistake 5th, blundered and almost unseated rider next, soon weakened, behind when virtually pulled up before last (usual 2 out), 11th of 12, well behind Kylenoe Fairy (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in May.
Extremely So 40-1 (10-10) Raced wide, held up in rear, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, weakened from next, last of 5, 13l behind Aikman (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Finch Flyer (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression flat, 4th of 11, 6l behind Kazzene (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl (4) gs in Jan.
First Avenue 9-2 (11-3) Not always fluent, held up well in rear, good headway on wide outside before 2 out, challenged and every chance 2 out, went 2nd between last 2, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Right Stuff (11-7) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd in Oct.
Drumshambo (USA) 12-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, lost place 4 out, behind when pulled up before next, in a race won by Nearby (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct '10, 16 ran.
Bathwick Man 12-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 9th, weakening when hit 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Oscar Prairie (10-11) at Hereford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Ray Diamond 20-1 (11-2) Led, headed approaching 5th, led again next, headed and hit 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 12, 5l behind Cresswell Crusader (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy.
Spiritual Art 11-8fav (11-0) Held up, headway 4th, led going well approaching 2 out, edged left after 2 out and again last, ran on well, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr beating Blue Lovell (10-11) by 6l, 7 ran.
Don't Panic (IRE) 40-1 (9-12) Went left and lost ground start, well in rear, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Pateese (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft, 12 ran.
