made all, quickened after 2 out and shaken up on run to final flight, well clear and eased close home
keen early and tracked leader, urged along in second 2 out, under pressure soon after and dropped to fifth before last
settled in rear, under pressure before 4 out and began to lose touch, soon detached
held up in touch, niggled along before 3 out, effort 2 out, went third before last, plugged on
close up, ridden after 4 out and began to lose ground, weakened
prominent early before settling in midfield, went third 3 out, headway to chase leader after 2 out, soon driven and kept on but not pace of winner
held up towards rear, under pressure after 4 out but responded to stay in touch, went fourth before last
towards rear, began to lose touch with main group well before 4 out and pulled up in back straight
Erne River handled soft going between the flags and had a subsequent winner back in third when scoring over this trip at Doncaster. He’ll improve again once he learns to settle but this is no straightforward task giving weight to unexposed novices from powerful yards, though he should have too much for surprise Newton Abbot winner Opening Bid. DEEPER BLUE has been staying on over 2m in bumpers and should relish the extra here so gets a tentative vote with Gosuatri needing to improve on what he’s shown so far.
Erne River (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, led after 3rd, jumped left next, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gd in Mar beating Kildimo (11-3) by 5l, 11 ran.
Opening Bid 18-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, raced keenly, went 2nd from 4th, led 2 out, headed between last 2, led again last, ridden out, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) gd in Apr beating Natural History (11-6) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Close Friend (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Held up, pushed along approaching 4th, struggling at next, behind when pulled up 2 out, at Market Rasen 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Deeper Blue (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Mid-division, closer chasing leaders home turn, hung right and outpaced over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 10, 9l behind Luttrell Lad (11-9) at Taunton 2m (5) sft in Mar.
Gosuatri (FR) 18-1 (11-4) Just worse than mid-division, not fluent 8th, tired jump 3 out, kept on at same pace after 2 out, 6th of 14, 29 1/2l behind Onagatheringstorm (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) gd in Apr.
Moonlight Flit (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, pushed along 6f out, soon weakened, heavily eased from 4f out, last of 9, dist behind Charlie's Glance (11-2) at Newbury 2m (5) gd in Mar.
Sinister Minister 12-1 (11-2) Pressed leader, ridden end of back straight, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 22 3/4l behind Black Poppy (11-2) at Warwick 2m mdn (5) gd in Mar.
Libbdan (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) In rear, pushed along before 3 out, weakened and tailed off before 2 out, 4th of 6, dist behind Casa Loupi (11-1) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gd in Apr.
