held up towards rear, headway 5th, challenged last, led and driven flat, headed last strides
tracked leaders, close 2nd going well 3 out, weakened flat
held up in rear, taked to outside and headway 3 out, driven flat, stayed on under pressure to lead last strides
prominent, led 2nd, headed 4th, weakened after next, tailed off
led until 2nd, led 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, headed flat, no extra
took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, not always fluent, headway after 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 5th, challenged last, every chance flat, no extra towards finish
Le Brocquy comes back after a an absence of just over a year but Martin Keighley can get one ready after a break so he cannot be ruled out but AJMAN has been well placed by Evan Williams to win three of his last four starts and can win again with the main threat rated as Dereks. Jim Best's gelding won well in a novices' handicap at Wetherby at the beginning of the month and was not disgraced when third behind Monkhair at Uttoxeter subsequently but a 3lb rise since then does look a shade harsh. Mayor Of Kilcock has struggled in handicaps since winning a novice hurdle at Aintree in May last year, while Petit Fleur has similarly not looked like troubling the judge again after her maiden hurdle win at Newton Abbot in April of last year but has been running creditably of late. Michael Blake's Sadler's Star has finally been given some respite from the handicapper and cannot be discounted but it is hard to get away from Ajman, who won so well at Hereford recently that he can win his fourth race from five starts.
Ajman (IRE) 7-2 (10-2) Tracked leaders, led after 2 out, quickened clear, easily, won at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf beating Dark Energy (10-13) by 6l, 12 ran.
Le Brocquy 5-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 4th, close 3rd when not fluent 3 out, weakened approaching last, eased flat, 4th of 14, 32l behind Miss Phoebe (10-2) at Worcester 2m nov clm hdl (5) gf in Jun '09.
Sadler's Star (GER) 11-2 (11-5) Held up in 4th, pushed along after 3 out, no impression 2 out, jumped left last, 5th of 7, 26l behind Rubipresent (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Mayor Of Kilcock 13-2 (11-6) Always towards rear, 9th of 14, 44l behind Alldunnandusted (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f 4yo Am hcp hdl (4) gf in May.
Dereks (IRE) 2-1fav (12-0) Led, not always fluent, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Monkhair (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Topenhall (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Soon prominent, 4th after 4 out, no extra from before next, 16th of 22, 49l behind Lightening Sky (10-12) at Cork 2m 4yo hcp hdl 80-95 gf in Jun '09.
Welcome Stranger 40-1 (10-13) Held up in 4th, not fluent 4th, closed after next, outpaced 7th, not fluent next, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Cannon Fire (10-0) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd, 6 ran.
Petit Fleur 25-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway 4th, went 2nd 7th until driven 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 12, 19l behind Cannon Fire (10-10) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
