held up, not fluent 1st, hit 6th, ridden and stayed on from 3 out, took 2nd last, no chance with winner
held up, going well and close up when blundered badly 3 out, not recover and pulled up before last
mid-division when mistake and unseated rider 3rd
in touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up, not fluent 1st, always in rear
held up, effort 3 out, ridden to chase winner from 2 out, lost 2nd last and one pace
led and set steady pace, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, clear last, ridden when idling close home
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
ACORDEON looks to be really well treated on his handicap debut and with Salute Him and Hibiki looking a little high in the handicap he has the vote with Alan King's Prideus rated as the main danger. The selection for Nicky Henderson has done very little wrong in five starts so far and was a winner two runs ago in a maiden on his effort start over timber. That was followed up with hime finishing well held but clear in second behind a useful subsequent winner and he's partnered by Tony McCoy, who has an excellent record for the yard. Salute Him has done most of his racing in his native Ireland and although there have been some solid efforts it's hard to see him winning off his current mark after finishing well down the when a pound better off on his last visit to the UK. Hibiki still looks a little high in the weights to be considered a winner while on the other hand Prideus should be capable of mounting a serious challenge under his current burden. Another tricky puzzle to solve where we like Acordeon to complete the picture.
L'Eau Du Nil (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, driven and one pace from last, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Currahee (9-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Acordeon (IRE) 5-4fav (11-9) In touch, tracked winner going well after 9th, squeezed along before 3 out, beaten before 2 out, 2nd of 9, 16l behind Ogee (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Lazy Darren 16-1 (10-6) Mid-division, ridden 3 out and soon one pace, 8th of 14, 14l behind European Dream (10-6) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Feb.
Prideus (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 2f out, soon ridden, no impression, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Toshi (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Salute Him (IRE) 7-4fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway to 10th 2 out, ridden and no impression before last where 9th, kept on run-in, 5th of 23, 6l behind Sarteano (11-8) at Fairyhouse 2m nov hcp hdl gd in Apr.
Olympian (FR) 11-2 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon one pace and no impression next, 4th of 9, 17l behind Secret Tune (11-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Mango Catcher (IRE) 5-2fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 6th, reminders 8th, kept on to chase leader 2 out, led close home, won at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr beating Huguenot (11-5) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Little Bob 14-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, lost place 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Top Mark (11-8) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Hibiki (IRE) 11-4fav (10-6) Held up in rear, headway 7th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened 2 out, blundered last, 5th of 7, 28l behind Hernando Royal (9-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Mar.
Markila (FR) 16-1 (10-0) Held up in last pair, ridden and mistake 6th, no chance after, 6th of 12, 19l behind How's Business (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f mrs lst hdl (1) gd in Apr.
The Duke's Speech (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Led, headed 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Ingratitude (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m beg chase (4) gf in Apr.
Saif Sareea 12-1 (11-7) Led to 4th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 6, 16l behind Master Nimbus (10-11) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Oct '07.
Sunsetten (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, not fluent 2 out, hit last, weakened flat, 4th of 14, 10l behind Bedizen (11-5) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Lord Baskerville 33-1 (10-4) Pulled hard, headway to join leaders 2nd, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, last of 16, 35l behind Katies Tuitor (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sep.
Sea Storm (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Prominent, chased winner 3rd until 2 out, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Reindeer Dippin (11-5) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
