led, ridden and headed after 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway after 2 out, led last, kept on
tracked leaders, led after 2 out, ridden and headed last, weakened flat
held up, chased leaders approaching 2 out, one pace
towards rear, effort 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, pushed along to chase leaders approaching 2 out, soon weakened
with leader, challenged 2 out, stayed on from last
Toshi comes here on the back of a good win at Chester last month and has to be respected back over hurdles but Jim Goldie's gelding seems a shade high in the weights at present and preference is for SIBERIAN TIGER, who gets the vote with Ellerslie Tom rated the pick of the rest. The selection was not disgraced in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot last month off a mark of 101 and Tony Martin's gelding looks well treated for his debut in a handicap over hurdles off a mark of just 112. Jim Goldie's Spirit of The Mist showed improved form over the winter when last seen in December and has to be considered on his reappearance, while Baguenaud is probably better than he showed here in May but is hard to back with any confidence after that outing and two subsequent starts. James Moffatt's Border Tale has been in good form on the flat of late and would have claims if able to reproduce that over hurdles. Alison Thorpe's Ellerslie Tom was a good winner at Uttoxeter in April and lost no caste in defeat when chasing home Joe Jo Star in the Swinton subsequently. The form of that race is working out really well and he has to be respected but a 6lb rise may prevent him from going one better today and preference is for the unexposed Siberian Tiger.
Ellerslie Tom 12-1 (11-0) Led, ridden last, kept on until headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 24, 1/2l behind Joe Jo Star (11-0) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in May.
Toshi (USA) 18-1 (10-10) Close up on inside, weakened 3 out, 13th of 24, 21l behind Joe Jo Star (11-0) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in May.
Border Tale 22-1 (11-7) Chased leader, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 45l behind Well Disguised (9-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Siberian Tiger (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, moderate 9th approaching 4 out, no impression from next, left moderate 2nd run-in, 2nd of 15, 8l behind Tarkari (11-2) at Ballinrobe 2m 4yo mdn hdl sft in May.
Baguenaud (FR) 8-1 (11-6) Mid-division, fell 5th, in a race won by Isabellareine (11-9) at Down Royal 2m hcp hdl 0-102 gf in Jun, 19 ran.
Tranos (USA) 15-2 (11-2) Keen early, in touch, reminders 4th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Top Mark (11-8) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Spirit of The Mist (IRE) 11-2fav (11-3) Led, headed after last, one pace, 2nd of 17, 2 1/4l behind Three Thieves (11-2) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
