prominent, reached at 4th, lost place 8th, soon behind
jumped right, led, headed after 3 out, beaten before next, weakening when mistake last
chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, closed to lead before 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well
last pair, not fluent 3rd, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
chased leaders, closed 4th, mistake next, challenged 4 out, led after 3 out, headed before 2 out, no impression on winner last, lost 2nd flat, no extra
held up in last pair, headway 8th, outpaced after 3 out, no impression in 4th last
MERCIAN PRINCE may be the senior runner in this but Amy Murphy’s bold-jumping front-runner looked as good as ever at Kempton on his reappearance and has nothing to fear from Only Money on that run. Saint Calvados won a Grade 2 just over a year ago and came back to form with a close third at Ayr while Espion Du Chenet travels over from Ireland with decent claims. Only seven, Light N Strike should have more to offer and he may have needed a recent second at Kempton.
Saint Calvados (FR) 6-1 (12-0) Led, hard pressed from 2 out, driven approaching last, headed towards finish, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 7, 1/2l behind Richmond Lake (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Mercian Prince (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Jumped well throughout, made all, ridden along after 2 out, reduced advantage close home but always doing enough, ran on, won at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in May beating Jay Jay Reilly (11-12) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Light N Strike (IRE) 9-1 (12-1) Midfield, headway to chase leader before 5th, pressed leader before 4 out where led, 1 length ahead 3 out, soon ridden and pressed for lead, soon headed, 5 lengths down approaching last, weakened run-in, 2nd of 8, 9 1/2l behind Triple Trade (10-12) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Espion Du Chenet (FR) 50-1 (10-3) Held up early, mid-division halfway, progress into 6th 3 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 12 1/2l behind Dinoblue (11-9) at Punchestown 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Hatcher (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) In touch in mid-division, not fluent 5th, soon lost place, well beaten before 3 out, pulled up before last, at Aintree 2m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Only Money (IRE) 13-2 (10-7) Held up in last, good headway after 9th, in third and going okay before 3 out, ridden along after 2 out, soon no extra, 4th of 7, 27 1/2l behind Mercian Prince (11-10) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in May.
