led to 1st, in 2nd when fell 7th
tracked leaders in 3rd, left 2nd and slightly hampered 7th, led 3 out, kept on well from last
tracked leader, led 1st, set strong pace, ridden after 4 out, headed 3 out, soon weakened
in rear, chased winner after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace from last
towards rear, hit 4th, weakened 8th, tailed off
Nonrunner
A 7lb penalty may not be enough to prevent FOREIGN KING from following up his recent Exeter win, while Norborne Bandit and Gleann An Sagart are others with leading claims. The last-named drops back in trip after largely racing at around 2m 4f in recent times. While that is a concern, he is a spring horse who loves quickish ground, and he could go very well, especially if allowed to dominate. Norborne Bandit is more of a two-mile specialist, and he goes well on the ground and also at this venue, where he has a course and distance win to his name. He is back on the same mark as that success for this race and is feared. Earth Dreams is another with claims, though he also drops significantly in trip and whether he will have the speed is open to question, so we will stick with Foreign King. The Seamus Mullins-trained pick stuck on very well to win at Exeter on ground described as good to firm, and this looks to be his time of year to add another success to his CV.
Gleann An Sagart 9-1 (11-10) Led, sometimes jumped left, headed after 3 out, weakened flat, 7th of 8, 16l behind Warpath (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Apr.
Earth Dream (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, stayed on from 4 out, 4th under pressure 3 out, one pace in 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 9, 15l behind Mhilu (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f beg chase (4) gd in Jul.
De Luain Gorm (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Led, soon clear, reduced lead 5th, headed 7th, weakened rapidly after next, soon struggling in rear, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Passato (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf.
Foreign King (USA) 11-2 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway to challenge 5th, led 3 out, clear when went right 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf beating Remember Bampi (10-10) by 9l, 9 ran.
Young Tot (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Led to 4th, tracked leader, weakened after 2 out, soon eased, 5th of 8, 40l behind Bollywood (9-7) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Apr.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 11-4 (10-4) Tracked leaders in rear and keen, blundered 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, in 3rd and held when left 2nd last, 2nd of 3, 9l behind Kikos (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
