mid-division, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace from 2f out
mid-division, headway halfway, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened final furlong
promient until slipped and fell 5f out
towards rear, ridden 3f out, stayed on final 2f
held up towards rear, headway 4f out, ridden to lead 2f out, driven clear flat comfortably
towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, ran on well to get 2nd close home
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
prominent, ridden and challenged 3f out, soon led, headed 2f out, kept on well final furlong
led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened
held up behind, ridden over 2f out, no impression
held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, no impression
mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden and every chance over 2f out, kept on final furlong
Spirited Spouse is nominated in the finale ahead of Hell's Bay and Similar Fashion. A 90,000 euros purchase as a foal, the Paul Nicholls-trained Hell's Bay certainly catches the eye here and looks set to go well. Nicholls also runs the much cheaper purchase Predictive. The 45,000 euros purchase as a four year old, Sheikh McMurray, also catches the eye, as does Alan King's 65,000 euros buy, Spirited Spouse. Philip Hobbs often does well in these races and he is represented by Coolock and Like A Hurricane, while Chilbury Hill has at least shown some promise but Similar Fashion showed even more promise, we feel, on his Bangor debut and gets a favourable mention. For the selection, we return to Spirited Spouse.
Benmore Boy (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Towards rear, headway 6f out, lost place 3f out, 11th of 17, 29l behind Checkerboard (10-10) at Haydock 2m nhf (6) gd in Apr.
Chilbury Hill (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Mid-division, headway over 8f out, chased winner over 4f out until weakened over 1f out, 3rd of 14, 13l behind Hellfire Club (10-7) at Stratford 2m mdn nhf (4) gf in Jun.
Coolock Silver Patriarch gelding, half-brother to winning bumper Ballymena.
Dont Tell Baby (IRE) Priolo gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
Hazeam 40-1 (10-2) Held up, ridden and weakened over 5f out, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Lodge Lane (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) hvy in Jan.
Hell's Bay (FR) Supreme Leader gelding out of winning hurdler Queen's Flagship.
Like A Hurricane (IRE) Simply Great gelding out of winning hurdler Legal Challenge.
Lugnasad 100-1 (10-9) Keen hold towards rear, lost touch final 3f, tailed off, 11th of 16, 22l behind Oberon Moon (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nhf (4) gd in Oct.
Predictive (FR) Smadoun gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
Sheikh McMurray Supreme Leader gelding out of an unraced mare.
Spirited Spouse (IRE) Exit To Nowhere gelding out of Fiancee.
Fair Coppelia Saddlers' Hall filly, half-sister to winning hurdler Formal Cliche and bumper Delena.
Similar Fashion 5-2fav (10-10) Took keen hold, mid-division, headway after 7f, not much room over 6f out, led over 3f out, ridden and ran green when headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 18, 11l behind Wychwoods Legend (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f mrs.
