held up, headway 3 out, led on bit 2 out, clear before last, very easily
slightly reluctant to race, led, clear until 3rd, headed before 2 out, soon beaten
chased leader, led before 2 out, soon headed, no chance with winner, lost 2nd flat
chased leaders, mistake 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
not fluent, took keen hold, held up, ridden and no impression before 2 out
held up, took keen hold, pushed along after 5th, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, weakened before next
Oyster Shell is hard to catch right and Party Palace looks up against it from 4lb out of the handicap. Kieron Edgar has been allowed to keep the ride on Purple 'n Gold, who was third at Aintree after winning at Haydock, but stablemate Willem also has claims on his fourth at Newbury in March and is preferred to Stratford runner-up Collodi. DUBAI PRINCE can continue the good run of John Ferguson's yard by defying top weight as he had Oyster Shell and Collodi well behind when third at Stratford last month. Frozen Over is much improved but his winning run came to an end off a lower mark at Warwick last time.
Dubai Prince (IRE) 5-1fav (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway after 2 out, led before last, soon headed, kept on, 3rd of 15, 2 1/4l behind Roman Flight (11-4) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Oyster Shell 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 9th of 15, 37l behind Roman Flight (11-4) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Purple 'n Gold (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Held up in touch, went 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Buckwheat (11-10) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Willem (FR) 4-1 (10-13) Took keen hold, led, soon clear, not fluent 4th, reduced lead 5th, not fluent 3 out, soon headed, weakened before next where jumped left and mistake, not fluent last, 5th of 6, 44l behind Virgilio (10-6) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in May.
Collodi (GER) 10-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway before last, kept on, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Kapstadt (10-9) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd.
Frozen Over 7-2 (10-5) Chased clear leaders, every chance before 2 out, hampered after hurdle, no impression and stayed on same pace after, 3rd of 8, 6l behind War Singer (11-4) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in May.
Party Palace 14-1 (11-0) In touch on outside, outpaced before last (usual 4 out), soon lost place, 6th of 8, 26l behind Just A Normal Day (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf.
