in touch, led 2 out, stayed on gamely
always toward rear, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, one pace from next
held up towards rear, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leader, hit 4 out, weakened between last 2
held up mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, stayed on same pace
headway approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, chased winner last, hung right and kept on same pace flat
held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, kept on from last
held up, blundered 1st, headway 8th, weakened 2 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened next
led, headed 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, weakened from 8th
always behind
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, kept on from next, never troubled leaders
Theatre Bell's improvement has been marked this Spring and Chris Grant's mare gets the nod to return to winning ways at the main expense of Maraafeq, Wun Chai and Hippodrome. Despite top-weight and a mark of 120, the selection's winning may not be at an end. The form of her run looks solid (winner went on to win 24 hours later by 15 lengths), and with ground conditions likely to be perfect, she is taken to win this. Wun Chai comes here in search of the hat-trick and he needs respect, although quite what he has beaten remains open to question. Prince Du Seuil is fairly consistent and this lightly-raced gelding should be respected now stepping up in trip, whilst Hippodrome returns from an absence and needs to be monitored carefully in the betting. Stainley has been running well of late and the stable have their horses in decent nick, whilst at a price Arctic Wings could go well with Dickie Johnson on his back. The consistent, if slightly disappointing Maraafeq is yet another to consider, however he may prefer a drop of rain and so we will return to Theatre Bell as the selection.
Theatre Belle 9-4fav (10-4) Mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, challenging when hit 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 2l behind La Vecchia Scuola (11-12) at Ayr 2m mrs hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Mind How You Go (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Tracking leaders when fell at the 4th in race won by Pagano (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Feb, 18 ran.
Wizard of Us 100-1 (10-4) Mid-division, ridden after 4 out, weakened from next, 11th of 16, 30l behind Border Castle (9-13) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Jazz Scene (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Disputed early, 3rd halfway, improved to dispute after 3 out, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 25, 21l behind Here Comes Sally (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl gd in Apr.
Wun Chai (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Prominent, chased leader 6th, ridden to challenge 2 out, led approaching last, driven clear flat, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar beating Poppy Maroon (10-11) by 10l, 21 ran.
Prince du Seuil (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leader 2 out, hampered soon after last, 3rd of 16, 17l behind Cornas (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Storymaker 28-1 (11-1) Raced keenly, in touch, ridden and effort 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 15, 20l behind De Blanc (11-3) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Apr.
Maraafeq (USA) 7-1 (11-5) Pressed leader, led approaching 3 out, joined next, narrowly headed soon after last, kept on under pressure run-in, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Lupanar (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo hdl (4) gs.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, 9th of 15, 16l behind Mamlook (11-12) at Ascot 2m 4yo nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Watch My Back 9-2 (11-12) Held up, headway 6th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 10, 13l behind Lambrini Legend (11-0) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Hippodrome (IRE) (9-13) won at Baden-Baden 2m 4f hdl sft beating Our Majestic (10-1) by 7l, 9 ran.
Stainley (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 3 out, headed next, hung right and one pace last, 4th of 15, 6l behind Little Bob (11-1) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Karathaena (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 7, 7l behind John Forbes (11-4) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Apr.
Midnight Chase 16-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, reminders 4 out, effort next, went 2nd approaching 2 out, stayed on well to lead flat, won at Perth 2m nh mdn hdl (4) gs in Apr '07 beating Platin Grounds (11-3) by 3l, 12 ran.
Speed Up (FR) 6-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, hit 2nd, never dangerous, 7th of 10, well behind McGruders Cross (11-7) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
