tracked leaders, chased winner from 6th, ridden before last, one pace and lost 2nd towards finish
made all, not fluent last, kept on, ridden out
tracked winner until 6th, outpaced 3 out, ridden before last, kept on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
in rear, not fluent and unseated rider 1st
Bella Montagna has been off since September 2011 whilst Ocean Club has his first run since joining Brian Ellison. Experimentalist has won over this trip at Fontwell this term and wasn't at all disgraced behind Sky Khan last time over 2m at Uttoxeter. However, Gordon Elliott has his usual raiding party in place and kicks off with DANTES KING, who delivered major improvement last time at this track when easily disposing of his rivals over 3m. The drop in trip should present no problem and he is the preferred choice in receipt of 7lb from the Vaughan charge.
Experimentalist 9-2 (11-2) Prominent, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace last, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Sky Khan (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gf.
Dantes King (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Jumped well, took keen hold tracking leader, led 8th, clear when went left from 3 out, driven and tiring flat, always holding on, won at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gf beating Quel Ballistic (10-7) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Ocean Club 14-1 (12-0) Hdwy 11; led 2 out til blun last; nt rec, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind All Great N Theory (12-0) at Ledbury 3m ptp sft in Apr.
Bella Montagna 16-1 (8-12) Slowly away, never travelled in rear, always struggling, tailed off, 9th of 12, 29l behind Castlemorris King (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Sep '11 (flat).
