unruly start, pulled early and chased leader, ridden and weakened 3 out
towards rear, hampered and unseated rider 3rd
held up, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, blundered 2 out, eased after
chased leader, led 5th to after 3 out, weakened approaching last
led, blundered 5th and headed, ridden 3 out, soon no chance
prominent, chased leader 3 out, led after, shaken up approaching 2 out, soon clear, wandered approaching last, easily
in touch, ridden and lost touch 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, jumped right and mistake 3rd, never on terms
mid-division, ridden and headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, stayed on, no chance with winner
A weak race and CLASSIC SWAIN is preferred to Arniecoco and Gizmondo. Blinkers and a tongue-tie are tried for the first time on the selection who comes here on the back of a second to Proper over this course and distance. That looks the best form on offer and he is preferred with little in the way of opposition today. Purlando needs watching in the betting on his first hurdles start and he has joined a good yard, Shannersburg will be eligible for handicaps after this run, whilst Players Please is dropped back massively in trip and connections seem to be playing a guessing game. Gizmondo may be the biggest danger; Gary Moore's gelding was well-fancied last time but he took the wrong course and therefore had to be pulled up. Classic Swain was decent in France as a three-year-old and can get his career back on track today with a win.
Afectionatesqueeze (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Soon behind, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Fair Point (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Gizmondo 4-1 (11-9) Pulled hard in rear, hit 1st, ran out and took wrong course after 4th, in a race won by Yossi (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Mar, 7 ran.
Merrymadcap (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Chased leader, with leader 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Carrickboy (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
Petito (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Rear, pushed along 5th, some headway after 9th, weakened before next, 8th of 10, 42l behind Senor Shane (10-8) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Players Please (USA) 12-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 33l behind Cast Cada (11-7) at Southwell 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Classic Swain (USA) 10-3 (10-7) In touch, mistake 1st, not fluent and lost place 3rd, steady progress 4 out, chased winner from 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Proper (11-7) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Purlando (GER) 100-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 10th of 15, 31l behind Covert Ambition (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gs in Oct (flat).
Shannersburg (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake 5th, one pace, 9th of 15, 43l behind Rock Me (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 3yo mdn hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Southern Exit 25-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led after 6th, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, well behind Present Gesture (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Arniecoco 12-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, no impression, 5th of 11, 46l behind Marchand D'argent (10-13) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
