held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, went 2nd before 3 out until approaching 2 out, no extra from last, lost 4th close home
chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 3rd, mistake next, ridden after 4 out, well beaten when mistake 2 out
led, ridden and headed before last, no impression on winner flat
chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, led approaching last, clear flat, comfortably
towards rear, reminder after 3rd, soon last, struggling when not fluent 5th, no impression
pressed leader until after 3rd, went 2nd before 5th until after 4 out, outpaced before 3 out, well held after, plugged on flat, went 4th close home
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, slow 3 out, went 3rd when not fluent last, no impression
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd until before 5th, went 2nd again after 4 out until before 3 out, no extra 2 out
This has a wide-open feel to it. Very few are ruled out with confidence but HATS OFF TO LARRY ticks quite a few boxes and should give a good account if the rains stay away. Ronde De Nuit looked the likely winner for much of the journey at Stratford last month but eventually went down by just half a length. He'll appreciate the quarter-mile shorter trip and a competitive account is anticipated in first-time cheekpieces. Wasdell Dundalk has come home strongly the last twice and should be in the shake-up again, although there still appears to be a question mark about his ideal trip. Inn The Bull and Cousin Oscar ran well last time and are respected.
Eviscerating (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 7th, ridden to lead narrowly turning for home, weakened before last, 6th of 8, 30 3/4l behind Ask Paddington (11-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Inn The Bull (GER) 11-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, ridden and went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Mix Of Clover (11-0) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Cousin Oscar (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 6th, ridden and headed last, weakened final 100 yards, just held on to 3rd, 3rd of 10, 11 1/4l behind My Bobby Dazzler (11-8) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Wasdell Dundalk (FR) 11-5 (11-10) Jumped right, chased leader, lost place 2 out, rallied flat, stayed on, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Castel Gandolfo (11-8) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Gerolamo Cardano 8-1 (11-0) Chased leader until not fluent 2nd, went 2nd after 4th until 6th, soon ridden, well beaten before 2 out, plugged on before last, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 18 1/2l behind Breaking Waves (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Nye Bevan (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Midfield, dropped towards rear before 4th, brief headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, made no impression, 9th of 12, 18 1/2l behind Shanandoa (10-5) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Ronde De Nuit (FR) 11-4fav (11-6) Towards rear, good headway to chase leaders 2 out, led going well before last, ridden after last, wandered flat and headed final 100yds, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Shanandoa (10-5) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Hats Off To Larry 17-2 (11-9) Midfield, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, with leading group at last, no extra on run in, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Ragamuffin (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gd in Jun.
