held up towards rear, bad mistake 4th, took closer order 7th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, beaten when left 3rd 2 out
held up, headway 8th, ridden to lead 3 out, challenged 2 out, kept on well, ridden out
towards rear, ridden from 6th, pulled up before 2 out
held up mid-division, headway 7th to chase leaders, ridden from 8th, mistake 4 out, disputed lead 2 out, hung left under pressure, beaten when hit last
in rear, ridden and outpaced from 9th, stayed on moderately
mid-division, ridden from 4 out, chasing leading pair and staying on when fell 2 out
always tracking leaders, ridden 8th, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, reminders 3rd, ridden from 6th, lost touch 8th, pulled up 3 out
led and keen, headed approaching 5th, soon dropped rear and behind when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, led 5th, ridden when headed approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
always towards rear, lost touch from 8th
tracked leaders and keen, ridden when mistake 8th, soon outpaced
always behind, lost touch from 8th
The former Mark Johnston inmate Xellance can open his account for the season at the expense of Ella La Senza and Misty Future. The six-year-old has done well since switching codes, the nine-times Flat winner coming good over hurdles at Hereford in April. He meets Ella La Senza on three pound better terms for a six length beating at Worcester recently, and although strictly still held on the form-book, was coming back after suffering sore feet on his previous start, and should be fully recovered now. In any case Ela La Senza was lucky to win at Worcester as Kimberlya was going best of all when falling. Misty Future has similar form to Xellance, and was unlucky last time at Newton Abbot, encountering traffic problems before going down narrowly to Esperado. None of the others make any appeal and we therefore return to Xellance to defy topweight under Richard Johnson.
