chased leaders, went 2nd 9th until 15th, weakened 4 out, went 3rd after last
jumped left at times, chased leader who was soon clear, lost 2nd 9th, outpaced 15th, rallied into 2nd 2 out, closed last, switched right flat,
never going that well in last, well behind 9th, pulled up before 12th
led, clear 3rd, not fluent 14th, reduced lead 4 out, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, not much room and pecked 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 1st or 5th, went 3rd before 11th, went 2nd 15th, not fluent next, led after 3 out, soon clear, reduced lead last, driven out
SHORTCROSS STORM showed dramatic improvement last time over course and distance when making all. Allowed a completely free run of things up front, he just held on in a desperate finish from Lady Wilberry who was the only one to get anywhere near him. It's all a question of if he's allowed another easy lead but finding an alternative is not straightforward. Lord Bryan has topweight but has pulled up on four of his last five and Investment Manager delivered an Exeter success between a pulled-up run and being beaten 64 lengths last time. He's impossible to predict. Hurricane Vichi is lightly-raced but has never jumped a fence in public or tackled over three miles. Cresswell Queen mixes hurdling and fencing and may prove next best off a lowly mark after a series of mid-division finishes.
Lord Bryan (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders on inside, weakened rapidly after 8th, tailed off and pulled up soon after, at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in May.
Investment Manager 2-1fav (12-0) Tracked leader, reminder after 4th, pushed along and dropped to rear after 9th, lost touch 4 out, never really travelled, 5th of 7, dist behind Petticoat Lucy (11-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in May.
Hurricane Vichi (IRE) 10-3 (12-0) Chased leader, led after 3rd, headed before 3 out, chased leader, lost 2nd approaching 2 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened between last two, 5th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Eaton Lady (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in May.
Shortcross Storm (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Made all at a good pace, hit 2nd, soon well clear, hit 9th, reduced lead 3 out and pushed along, faced one challenger 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on resolutely, all out, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in May beating Lady Wilberry (11-13) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Cresswell Queen 16-5 (11-7) Held up in rear, pushed along before omitted 2 out, soon lost touch, 5th of 7, 21 1/4l behind Lady Robinn (10-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (5) gd in May.
