led after 1st until after 2nd, led before 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
took keen hold, chased leaders, jumped left 3rd, went 2nd 5th until 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
led until 1st, led after next, headed before 4 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders on outside, steadied after 2nd, struggling 3 out, no impression after
took keen hold in rear, struggling before 5th
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, bumped 3rd, outpaced when mistake 3 out, plugged on from 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well
took keen hold, held up towards rear, behind from 4th
held up towards rear, ridden 4 out, headway into 3rd before 2 out, no impression
Nicky Henderson has won two of the four renewals but Tales Of The Tweed hasn’t raced since landing a double over timber in 2017 so stablemate Cultivator is preferred on his return to action. Southwell winner Adman Sam also last raced in 2017 while Comrade Conrad is upped in class after scoring over a longer trip here. Potterman and Silver Kayf are others facing tougher tasks having placed at Ayr and Wincanton respectively on their latest starts but STERNRUBIN (NAP) moves in the opposite direction having competed in Grade 3 contests the last twice. He went close in a higher grade handicap than this at Taunton before that and Ben Jones’ allowance can see him back to winning ways.
Sternrubin (GER) 16-1 (10-13) Raced keenly, in touch on inside, led 5th to before next, led again 7th, hard pressed after 3 out, ridden and headed between last 2, no extra flat, just held on for 4th, 4th of 21, 8 1/2l behind Three Musketeers (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Cultivator 6-4 (11-8) Tracked winner until 4th, close up, pushed along and lost ground 10th, not fluent next, slow and pulled up soon after 13th, at Fakenham 3m (3) gd in Oct.
Espoir De Teillee (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Chased leader until before 3rd, stayed handy, losing place when not much room before last, weakened after, 9th of 15, 30 1/2l behind Le Patriote (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Sussex Ranger (USA) 16-1 (11-12) Pushed along to lead, reminder before 4th, headed on long run before 2 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 24 3/4l behind Forza Milan (11-11) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Tales Of The Tweed (IRE) 11-8 (11-7) Made all, ridden approaching last, unchallenged, won at Fakenham 2m 4f (3) gf in May beating Fortified Bay (11-0) by 6l, 4 ran.
Silver Kayf 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, led 3 out, soon headed, stayed close up, every chance after last, 3rd and held towards finish, 3rd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Kings Ryde (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Potterman 5-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, badly hampered 7th, driven to chase winner 3 out, kept on and every chance last, no extra and held flat, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Castletown (10-3) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Adman Sam (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up in 3rd, went 2nd 3 out, 5 lengths down 2 out, quickened to lead last, in command flat, won at Southwell 2m 4f (4) gd in May beating Follow The Bear (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 3 ran.
Comrade Conrad (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, led before 2 out, jumped right last, in command flat, stayed on, won at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Apr beating He's A Goer (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
