in touch on outside, pushed along 6f out, soon lost place and struggling in rear, tailed off
towards rear, headway over 4f out, one pace final 2f
led after 1f, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, headway to 4th and pushed along over 3f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
chased leaders, pushed along over 4f out, challenged from 2f out, upsides, green and hung left over 1f out, led inside final furlong, on top near finish
led 1f, chased leaders, outpaced over 4f out, headway on inside over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
always rear-division, pushed along and struggling over 5f out, tailed off
took keen hold in touch, lost place and behind over 4f out, tailed off
keen, chased leader after 1f, led over 2f out, soon joined, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
towards rear, headway over 4f out, one pace final 2f
towards rear, steady headway over 4f out, stayed on to 3rd and edged left inside final furlong, kept on
in rear, some headway over 3f out, never dangerous
As ever the market will provide a good guide to expectations but it will be surprising if THE MERRY GIANT doesn't emerge as a leading contender and he receives our nomination ahead of Railway Diva and Sothisisit. It has proved worth paying due attention when Rebecca Curtis employs the services of Champion Jockey Tony McCoy as the pair's strike rate was better than one in three last season, recording a level stakes profit. That is slightly less relevant here given that The Merry Giant is owned by the jockey's retainer but the gelding is still expected to go close for a yard that sent out nine winners from just twenty one runners in bumpers last season. Railway Diva was beaten a long way at Chepstow but it can pay to forgive horses a poor run at that venue and it will be interesting to see what the market makes of her chances and those of Sothisisit who showed a modicum of ability on debut at Kempton but The Merry Giant is fancied to tower above them.
Bridge Street Boy 50-1 (11-0) In rear, reminders after 6f, soon struggling, lost touch 7f out, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Scoter Fontaine (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Apr.
Pathlow (IRE) Old Vic gelding out of Rosa View.
Smart Freddy 33-1 (10-13) Led, ridden clear over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 5th of 15, 12l behind Fontano (10-10) at Kempton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Sothisisit (FR) 13-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 4th of 15, 10l behind Poppy Come Running (10-11) at Kempton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
The Merry Giant (IRE) Curtain Time gelding out of Laughing Lesa.
Basford Tara 50-1 (10-13) With leader until 5f out, lost place over 3f out, 7th of 14, 20l behind Instabella (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f N H flat (4) gd in Apr.
Glad Schipi (FR) Robin Des Pres mare out of So Glad.
Kingston Orla Baryshnikov mare out of Tricata.
Miss Harriet Sir Harry Lewis mare out of Coddington Girl.
Railway Diva (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Never better than mid-division, pushed along 4f out, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Bottman (11-1) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Sheezatreasure (IRE) Naheez mare out of Cottage Treasure.
Alaska River (IRE) Whitmore's Conn filly out of Unalaska.
Time Legend 15-2 (10-7) Mid-division on inside, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 8, 37l behind The Strawberry One (10-12) at Towcester 2m N H flat (5) gf in Apr.
Harry Masters 50-1 (10-9) Mid-division, took keen hold, lost place 4f out, soon weakened, last of 12, 26l behind Ben Cee Pee M (11-2) at Towcester 2m mdn NH flat (5) gf.
