tracked leader, hit 2nd, led after 4th, headed 5th, led again 4 out, eased towards finished, readily
led, headed after 4th, led again 5th, headed 4 out, chased winner, kept on and always well held from 3 out
held up in touch, went 3rd approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, soon in rear, pushed along 5th and reminders, weakened from 4 out
tracked leaders and keen, hit 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out
Ghimaar won at this course last month and remains a big threat to our selection which is LAMBORO LAD whilst Oscar Charlie should get round but may not be able to keep up with the leaders. The pick put in a valiant effort last time at Aintree over the hurdles and was just half a length behind Solway Sam who completed a hat-trick that day. To lose to such an in-form horse by such a narrow margin is no disgrace and prior to this he had secured a solid victory at Uttoxeter. He is likely to give a good account of himself having only once finished outside the top three and he looks to represent more value than the likely odds-on favourite Ghimaar. The Nicky Henderson trained gelding is in reasonable form too and won here last month. He followed this up with a very creditable fourth in the Ascot Stakes. A reservation may be that this was the first time he had tried two and a half miles and although he has had hurdling success it was over a shorter trip. Oscar Charlie has had a run of reasonable Irish points efforts without managing to win and he should play a part. Our preference is for Lamboro Lad.
Ghimaar 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, led approaching 3 out where not fluent, clear when not fluent last, very easily, won at Worcester 2m hdl (4) gs in Jun beating Now This Is It (11-2) by 12l, 7 ran.
Lamboro Lad (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Led 1st, stepped at 7th, ridden approaching last, headed 100 yards out, stayed on, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Solway Sam (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Oscar Charlie (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 14, 25l behind Maggie Aron (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Jun.
Chaser's War (IRE) 22-1 (10-8) Always behind, tailed off 6th, 9th of 11, well behind Via Galilei (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Silver Sonnet 66-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Alpine Breeze (10-10) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jun, 14 ran.
