chased leader, pushed along and made no impression from 4 out
led, ridden home turn, few lengths clear 3 out, challenged last, soon headed, kept on same pace
chased leader, pushed along and weakened approaching 4 out
mid-division, pushed along from 6 out, fell 4 out
mid-division, went 2nd 8th, ridden 3 out, upsides last and soon led, stayed on well flat
held up, mistake 1st, headway under pressure 3 out, soon outpaced, plugged on in distant 3rd
in rear, not fluent 10th, pushed along and weakened 4 out when hampered by faller
mid-division, struggling 4 out, pulled up 3 out
A smaller than usual turnout for the feature. Caribean Boy heads the weights but has become impossible to predict. He's a contender if on form. Ballykeel and Definite Plan represent Gordon Elliott with the former looking likeliest under Sean Bowen and well worth shortlisting. Scipion is also hard to assess, so let's see how he goes on a first start for the Coltherds since leaving Tom Lacey. Saint Arvans and Hermann Clermont have too many letters in recent form to approach with confidence and recent wins for Western Run came in the pointing sphere. He's seeking a first success under Rules since October 2020. Peter Bowen enjoys a good record in big summer handicap chases and LANDOFSMILES impressed when scoring on the back of a 486-day break and may have been plotted up for this.
Caribean Boy (FR) 8-1 (12-0) Front mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon dropped away, 7th of 11, 24 1/4l behind Arizona Cardinal (10-3) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) gs in May.
Definite Plan (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Led, ridden and pressed 3 out, soon headed and under pressure in 3rd, left 2nd 2 out, no extra in 3rd before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 11 1/2l behind Pont Aval (10-0) at Killarney 3m 2f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Scipion (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Chased leaders, not fluent 10th, pushed along after 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 5th of 7, 26l behind Betty Baloo (11-1) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (3) gs in May.
Landofsmiles (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Prominent, led 12th, hit 14th and headed, led after 4 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (3) gd in May beating I See You Well (11-8) by 10l, 11 ran.
Ballykeel (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, slight mistakes 9th and 6 out, ridden in 4th entering straight, no extra when fell 3 out, at Killarney 3m 2f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Saint Arvans (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, mistake 5th, soon lost place, not fluent and in rear 7th, pulled up before 8th, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in May.
Western Run (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Disputed lead, mistake and headed 4 out, pushed along and every chance 2 out, no extra run-in, 2nd of 3, 8l behind Bodhisattva (11-4) at Perth 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Hermann Clermont (FR) 2-1 (12-4) Held up in rear, in touch, hampered by faller and unseated rider 15th, at Kelso 3m 2f (3) gf in May.
