tracked leader, disputed lead after 6th, led 8th, made rest, quickened clear after 4 out, in no danger after, kept on, comfortably
jumped right, led, joined after 6th, headed 8th, lost place and behind from next, no danger after, tailed off 4 out
held up in touch, headway into 2nd at 8th, unable to go with easy winner after 4 out, no chance after, plugged on
disputed 2nd to 8th, chased leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up next
held up in rear, tracked leaders after 9th, outpaced by clear pair after 4 out, plugged on in remote 3rd from next, tailed off
Dark Mahler has rattled up a hat-trick in small-field points and is clearly in great heart at present but may find BALLOTIN too hot to handle. The Hobbs charge impressed when easily accounting for Double Ross at Leicester on his penultimate start and was still going along nicely when coming to grief four out the last day. Setting a strong standard here, he should be good enough with a clear round. Martha's Benefit will find this easier than when pulling up latest at the Cheltenham hunter chase evening and similar comments apply to Shimla Dawn who failed to complete at Aintree when last seen but has claims on his smooth Musselburgh success back in February.
Ballotin (FR) 7-4 (12-6) Held up, headway 6th, chased winner before 9th, shaken up and 2 lengths down when fell 4 out, at Ludlow 2m 4f (4) gs in Mar.
Shimla Dawn (IRE) 66-1 (12-0) Sprawled on landing 1st, never better than mid-division, behind from 5th, pulled up before 2 out, at Aintree 2m 5f (2) sft in Apr.
Dark Mahler (IRE) 4-5fav (12-5) Ww; led on bit 2 out; canter, won at Witton Castle 3m gd in May beating Sposalizio (12-5) by 25l, 4 ran.
Hurricane Vic 11-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd before not fluent 3 out, well held by winner from next, 2nd of 4, 27l behind Carter Mckay (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 3f (6) gd in Apr.
Martha's Benefit (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Mistakes, always behind, lost touch final circuit, continued tailed off until pulled up after 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f (4) gs in May.
