took keen hold in mid-division, behind final 3f
never better than mid-division, tailed off final 4f
chased leaders, every chance 2f out, one pace over 1f out
led until 3f out, soon ridden, weakened well over 1f out
chased leader, led 3f out, headed 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
behind, some headway 3f out, one pace final 2f, never dangerous
behind, headway into mid-division halfway, chased leaders over 4f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, every chance 2f out, chased winner after, hung right under pressure over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, just held
took keen hold in rear, never near leaders
mid-division, kept on steadily final 2f, nearest finish
took keen hold in touch, behind final 3f
took keen hold, chased leaders, every chance 2f out, one pace over 1f out
behind, driven along 6f out, behind when virtually ran off course on bend approaching home straight
soon chased leaders, led 2f out, hard ridden final furlong, held on
MURRELL was narrowly beaten on his debut for Paul Nicholls at Chepstow in October, going down by just a head behind Cavingdon, and he has an obvious chance of going one better today and gets the vote to do just that with the main dangers rated as Thomas Wild and Mister Chancer. Alan King's gelding stepped up from the form of his debut effort at Ascot in November when not beaten far at Huntingdon in January and he has every chance. Spock, a stable companion of the selection, is bred to be useful but Ruby Walsh rides Murrell and he looks the stable first string. Neil Mulholland's Midnight Opera has shown some promise in two starts but needs to improve to trouble the judge and of more interest may be Paul Henderson's Rock Classic, who made a pleasing debut here last month. Philip Hobbs has his team in good form right now so Thomas Wild has to be considered after a promising debut at Newton Abbot in April but it is hard to get away from Murrell, who looks the one to be on.
Giant Act 16-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, pushed along and struggling 5f out, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Dragon's Roost (11-4) at Newbury 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
King Dick Baryshnikov gelding out of Lady Noso.
Mister Chancer (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Held up in rear, headway to chase winner over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Kings Grey (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Murrell (IRE) 8-11fav (11-0) Led, pushed along 2f out, hard pressed final furlong, headed last strides, 2nd of 10, hd behind Cavingdon (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
R Craig (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway halfway, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 3f out, 11th of 16, 36l behind Chartreux (10-13) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) sft in Dec.
Rock Classic 8-1 (10-11) Held up, headway on outer over 3f out, ridden approaching 2f out, one pace, 4th of 12, 18l behind Highland Valley (11-4) at Wincanton 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Feb.
Spock (FR) Lost World gelding out of Quark Top.
Thomas Wild 7-2fav (10-10) In touch, every chance over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Miss Nightshade (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf in Apr.
Court Drama 100-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, kept on final 2f, never able to challenege, 6th of 14, 9l behind Tiger Bay (11-4) at Lingfield 2m mdn nat hunt flt (4-6yo) (6) std in Feb.
Lost Two Stars (IRE) Fourstars Allstar mare out of Beagan Rose.
Keckerrockernixes (IRE) 100-1 (10-6) Towards rear, never a factor, tailed off 6f out, 9th of 16, well behind Fishoutofwater (11-3) at Hereford 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft.
Letcombe Brook 100-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 13, 50l behind Dragon's Roost (11-4) at Newbury 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Midnight Opera 5-1fav (11-0) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 12, 15l behind Reverend Green (10-7) at Southwell 1m 6f 4yo nhf (4) std in Jan.
Sultan De Touzaine (FR) 22-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders and keen, weakened before 4f out, last of 12, well behind Ohio Gold (10-8) at Wincanton 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Feb.
Tenitemsplustoast Midnight Legend gelding out of Ultra Pontem.
Reinriver 7-1 (10-12) Prominent until weakened quickly 4f out, tailed off, 15th of 16, well behind Alpine Breeze (10-5) at Newbury 1m 4f 3yo flls NH flat (5) hvy in Dec.
Koralsdarling (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, took keen hold, weakened over 5f out, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Cresswell Crusader (10-12) at Chepstow 2m cond & am NH flat (6) hvy in Feb.
Catspan (FR) Turgeon gelding out of Royale Pour Moi.
