in touch, jumped left 1st, jumped right 2nd, jumped left again 4th, ridden after 9th, led 3 out, clear last, eased flat
in touch, hampered 1st, lost place after 6th, weakened after 8th, tailed off when refused 2 out
held up, hampered 1st, headway after 6th, weakened after next, behind when fell 8th
chased leaders, hampered 4th, reminded after next, lost place 7th, rallied 2 out, not fluent last, kept on, no chance with winner
prominent, led 6th to 8th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, jumped right 2nd and 5th, headway approaching 8th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
led to 6th, led again 8th, hit 9th, ridden and headed 3 out, soon weakened
behind, headway approaching 8th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when hampered 2 out
Nonrunner
Jonjo O'Neill's Dooley may well be better than he has shown so far but he is hard to back on recent evidence and preference is for Charmatic, who gets the vote ahead of Argonaut. The last mentioned showed promise on his hurdling debut at Chepstow last month and is entitled to come on for the run so has to be respected. Le Briar Soul looks to be going the right way but is not certain to be suited by the drop back in trip, while Almavara may do better now that he is stepped up in distance but needs to improve. In Dream's is becoming expensive to follow, while Allistathebarrista is probably best watched on his racecourse debut. The vote then goes to Andy Turnell's Charmatic, who opened his account over hurdles when landing a novice event at Towcester last month and was subsequently far from disgraced under his penalty here over two miles. This longer trip should be well within his compass and Charmatic is taken to resume winning ways.
Allistathebarrista (IRE) Leading Counsel gelding, half-brother to winning chaser Prince Buck.
Argonaut 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 16, 8l behind dhtrs Smokey Mountain (10-11) & Lysander (10-11) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Dooley 9-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, progress into moderate 3rd before 4 out, ridden and no impression approaching next, no extra before 2 out, 6th of 17, 19l behind Boolakraken (11-7) at Listowel 2m mdn hdl gd in Sept.
Ever So Slightly (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division, lost place 6f out, stayed on final 2f, 5th of 14, 20l behind Scribano Eile (10-11) at Wetherby 2m nhf (5) hvy in Mar.
Le Briar Soul (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on well from 2 out, 4th of 15, 15l behind The Luder (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Almavara (USA) 9-2 (10-10) Prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 12, 19l behind Heathcote (11-3) at Towcester 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
In Dream's (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Soon led, hit 4th, headed next, weakening when badly hampered 3 out, 6th of 12, 39l behind Panzer (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf.
Charmatic (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, took closer order after 5th, ridden, switched right over 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 16, 5l behind Moon Over Miami (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) gd.
