led, pushed along final bend, joined 2 out, soon headed, held but kept on flat, lost 2nd towards finish
tracked leader, stumbled 1st, not fluent next, challenged 2 out, soon led, driven out
chased leaders, closed when not fluent last, switched left flat, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish
raced in 4th, not always fluent and slow at times, closed after 3 out, ridden and not quicken last, no extra flat
held up in last, took keen hold, headway when not much room last, went 4th flat, never dangerous
A tricky start but it’s often worth following a mare in form and Sorbet is certainly that having followed up a maiden win here last month with victory in a handicap at Kempton. She does have to concede weight all round, however. Doncaster winner Timberman will find this easier than the Grade 1 he contested at Aintree last time but the four-year-old AMBASSADOR has been generally progressive and is taken to return to winning ways. Awesomedude rattled up a five-timer on the Flat last year for James Ferguson and could be a useful recruit to hurdling but this is not an easy start and Flamenco De Kerser may also need to have his sights lowered.
Sorbet 9-4jfav (11-9) Chased leader, not fluent 1st, nudged along after 3 out, led before last, ran on gamely flat, won at Kempton 2m hcp (4) gd in May beating Green Or Black (11-12) by 1l, 5 ran.
Timberman (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Held up in last and behind, not fluent 1st, closed after 4 out, no impression and well beaten 3 out, 6th of 10, 35l behind Belfast Banter (11-4) at Aintree 2m (1) gs in Apr.
Ambassador (IRE) 85-40fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway to track leader after 3 out, ridden to chase leader after 2 out, every chance when made challenge last, kept on but no match for the winner on the run-in, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Burrows Diamond (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Awesomedude 85-40fav (9-10) Raced keenly, tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd over 5f out, led over 3f out, strongly pressed from over 1f out, stayed on gamely, won at York 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Sudona (9-5) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Flamenco De Kerser (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Led and opened up wide lead, hit 4th, shaken up when pressed before 2 out, soon headed and no extra, lost 2nd after the last, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Trailboss (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (3) gd in May.
