mid-division in touch on inside, headway 3 out, went 2nd and switched right next, challenged last, ridden to lead narrowly flat, held on under pressure
in touch on outside, lost place after 7th, behind from 9th, pulled up after 4 out
ran loose before start, mid-division, outpaced 4 out, weakened before next, behind when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, driven approaching 3 out, ridden and effort before next, kept on same pace, no impression before last
mid-division in touch on outside, reminder after 7th, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression from next
held up behind when fell 5th
tracked leaders, lost place after 4 out, weakened from next
behind, struggling 9th, never near leaders
in touch, steady headway after 4 out, effort next, soon ridden, kept on same pace 2 out, no impression
always behind, struggling 9th, pulled up before 2 out, dismounted
led narrowly after 1st, headed 9th, lost place after 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, lost place and mistake 7th, struggling 9th, soon behind
towards rear, mistake 6th, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous
towards rear of mid-division on inside, outpaced after 4 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, effort on inside when not fluent next, lost place 2 out, weakened last
mid-division, headway 4 out, effort next, soon one pace, weakened before last
towards rear of mid-division on outside, lost place 7th, headway under pressure after 4 out, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, chased leading pair before last, no impression when lost 3rd flat
towards rear, headway after 4 out, chased leaders next, ridden and one pace approaching 2 out, no impression
chased leaders, reminders after 7th, soon lost place, behind from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
behind, headway under pressure before 3 out, soon ridden, 5th approaching last, stayed on to go 3rd flat, no impression with front pair
led to after 1st, pressed leader, led again 9th, ridden after 3 out, hard pressed last, headed flat, kept on, held towards finish
Nonrunner
Cape Tribulation and Son Of Flicka both won staying handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival. The pair are 8lb and 7lb respectively higher here and have a lot more to do, though several of today's rivals ended up well beaten in those races. Our Father was one of those but it would be no surprise if the grey proved the pick of David Pipe's quartet today as he'll have no problems with the ground. The tough Houblon Des Obeaux was fourth to Cape Tribulation at Cheltenham and is entitled to get closer today while Veiled, a winner on the Flat at Royal Ascot last summer, is starting to look well handicapped and can reverse Festival running with Son Of Flicka. GULLINBURSTI boasts very solid form on good to soft going and it was probably his lack of experience as much as anything that cost him victory at Newbury last time. He has the beating of Deireadh Re on that run, as well as veteran Buena Vista, and gets the vote here despite a 5lb rise in the weights. Corkage looks too high in the handicap now but Uttoxeter winner Volador could be interesting as he's comparatively lightly-raced and the return to a longer trip won't faze him. Oscar Prairie also has each-way claims and may be best of the rest.
Cape Tribulation 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, steady headway 8th, 6th 2 out, went 2nd going well and poised to challenge before last, led soon after, ridden and held on well flat, won at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar beating Catch Me (10-9) by 3/4l, 24 ran.
Our Father (IRE) 11-2fav (11-3) Mid-division on inside, outpaced before 2 out, weakened and eased between last 2, tailed off, 15th of 24, well behind Cape Tribulation (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Spirit River (FR) 16-1 (11-2) In touch, effort 3 out, soon chased leaders, 4th and staying on same pace when fell last, in a race won by Son Of Flicka (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar, 28 ran.
Rick (FR) 28-1 (10-12) Prominent, outpaced 2 out, soon lost place, well beaten when not fluent last, 6th of 24, 19l behind Cape Tribulation (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 33-1 (10-9) In touch, driven and outpaced after 3 out, 8th next, ridden and kept on between last 2, left clear 4th last, no impression with leaders, 4th of 24, 4l behind Cape Tribulation (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Son Of Flicka 16-1 (10-6) Led to 2nd, tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led before last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar beating Get Me Out Of Here (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 28 ran.
Corkage (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Made all, clear before last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Mar beating Alderley Rover (10-9) by 8l, 7 ran.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden and lost place when hit 5th, behind when pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Hada Men (10-8) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd, 20 ran.
Deireadh Re (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 15, 27l behind Knock A Hand (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Reindeer Dippin 40-1 (10-5) Behind, headway on outside 7th, hit next, chased leaders 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression, 5th of 24, 18l behind Cape Tribulation (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Buena Vista (IRE) 7-1 (9-13) Disputed lead, ridden 3 out, soon lost place, weakened from next, 13th of 24, 30l behind Cape Tribulation (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Veiled 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 4 out, effort on outside 2 out, ridden to chase winner briefly before last, kept on, held by leading pair flat, 3rd of 28, 6l behind Son Of Flicka (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Volador (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway after 5th, went 2nd before 7th, led approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, joined last, in command close home, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar beating Native Gallery (11-9) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Palace Jester 66-1 (10-8) Led narrowly, ridden and hard pressed before 2 out, headed between last 2, weakened last, 12th of 24, 27l behind Cape Tribulation (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Timesawastin (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Made all, took keen hold, not fluent throughout, blundered last, ridden run-in, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar beating Trustan Times (11-7) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Star Of Angels 33-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, hampered and brought down 3rd, in a race won by Son Of Flicka (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar, 28 ran.
Ringaroses 3-1 (12-0) A bhnd; to & pu 2 out, in a race won by Offshore Account (12-0) at Barbury Racecourse 3m ptp gd in Feb, 9 ran.
Shoegazer (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, headway to lead before 4 out, blundered 2 out, ridden 3 lengths clear before last, kept on, won at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft beating Salontyre (11-2) by 3l, 10 ran.
Oscar Prairie (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 3rd, headed after 4th, chased leader until 6th, tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, stayed on one pace flat, 3rd of 16, 5l behind Bear's Affair (10-13) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Mar.
Trustan Times (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, went 3rd before last, chased winner run-in, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Timesawastin (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
American Spin 100-1 (11-7) Mid-division on outside, lost place before 7th, weakened from next, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Brindisi Breeze (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar, 20 ran.
Gullinbursti (IRE) 9-4fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, challenegd after 2 out, 1 length down flat, stayed on well towards finish, 2nd of 15, nk behind Knock A Hand (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.