mid-division, headway over 5f out, ridden and hung left over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
behind, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, not quicken final furlong
prominent, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out
prominent, pushed along 7f out, weakened over 4f out
held up, headway 6f out, led over 2f out, driven out
Sobers showed plenty of promise on his debut at Aintree last week and has to be respected but Richard Guest's gelding is unlikely to represent much in the way of value and preference is for What A Vintage, who gets the vote ahead of Triple Mint. The last mentioned makes his racecourse debut but is a likely type on pedigree and represents the stable of Ginger McCain that has already had success in this grade this term. Must Be Keen has run with credit in two starts so far but may not want the ground as testing as this, while A Few Kind Words did not seem completely at home under testing conditions when encountering them at Chepstow in March. Point-to-point winner Strange Days should come on for his rules debut but the vote goes to What A Vintage, who showed enough on his debut at Warwick in March to show that a contest of this nature would be within his compass and represents the yard of Richard Phillips that can do little wrong at present. At the forecast odds, What A Vintage makes more appeal than the likely favourite Sobers.
A Few Kind Words (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Held up, headway on inside over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 17, 10l behind Kate's Gift (10-13) at Ludlow 2m nhf (H) gd in Apr.
Must Be Keen 14-1 (10-13) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway over 6f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 15, 13l behind Briscoe Place (11-4) at Worcester 2m nhf (H) gf in Sept.
Sobers (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up and keen, headway halfway, stayed on final 3f, 4th of 15, 13l behind Spartacus Bay (10-13) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf (H) sft in Oct.
Strange Days (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Prominent until weakened over 4f out, 6th of 9, 14l behind Tell Henry (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nhf (H) gf in Oct.
Triple Mint (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding, half-brother to winners on the Flat and over hurdles.
Walton Way 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, lost place over 6f out, tailed off over 1f out when pulled up in race won by Shakerattleandroll (11-1) at Worcester 2m mdn nhf (H) gf in Jun, 12 ran.
Tuckers Bay Karinga Bay filly out of a lightly-raced mare.
What A Vintage (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, switched right over 2f out, ran on, not reach winner, 2nd of 18, 7l behind Gay Gladys (10-13) at Warwick 2m mrs nhf (H) gs in Mar.
