midfield in touch, not fluent 11th, soon ridden and outpaced, lost touch 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, in touch with leaders 4 out, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, 3 lengths 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, 1 length down approaching last, stayed on well run-in, led near finish
prominent, chased leader 4 out, soon ridden and outpaced, lost touch with leaders before 2 out
jumped well, led, 2 lengths ahead 4 out, soon pressed for lead, 1 length ahead 3 out, soon ridden, 2 lengths ahead 2 out, 1 length ahead approaching last, stayed on but soon worn down, headed near finish
held up in rear, bad mistake 11th, ridden and tailed off before 2 out
prominent, headway to chase leader before 3 out where 1 length down, soon driven, 2 lengths down 2 out, weakened into 3rd before last, no extra run-in
midfield, not fluent 4 out, soon driven and outpaced, weakened before 2 out
tended to jump right, held up in rear, ridden and outpaced before 3 out where unseated rider
midfield, bad mistake 6th, soon pulled up
Barton Knoll is 6lb lower than when only beaten a nose in this last year with Shang Tang behind. Good ground is essential for THE BIG BITE and, with conditions in his favour tonight, March’s Newbury winner can defy his big weight ahead of Captain Tom Cat, who has been threatening a return to form, and the mare La Domaniale. Presentandcounting will strip fitter for his run at Cheltenham and Jemima P had a pipe-opener at Chepstow last month. Grandeur D'Ame won at Stratford and Huntingdon earlier this year but his yard has been in the doldrums for a while.
The Big Bite (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Raced wide in close 3rd, went 2nd 11th, led 4 out, joined last, hung left and strongly pressed run-in, stayed on gamely, all out, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Mar beating Gemirande (10-2) by hd, 7 ran.
La Domaniale (FR) 6-1 (11-6) Led until 3rd, led 7th, headed and not fluent 3 out, no extra 2 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Walk In Clover (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Presentandcounting (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, dived at 5th, headway 12th, chasing leaders 3 out, no extra before last, 6th of 12, 14 1/2l behind Caribean Boy (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Jemima P (IRE) 22-1 (11-11) Bit keen, led and disputed, headed 5 out, awkward next, lost 2nd approaching next, plugged on in modest 3rd, 3rd of 7, 11 3/4l behind Jetoile (12-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Brief Times (IRE) 9-5 (11-2) Took keen hold, led, 1 length ahead 4 out, maintained advantage 3 out, disputed lead 2 out, soon ridden, headed approaching last, weakened close home, last of 3, 7 1/2l behind Herbiers (11-6) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Captain Tom Cat (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, blundered and unseated rider 10th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Grandeur D'ame (FR) 10-3 (11-1) Handy, lost position and dropped to rear 6th, always behind thereafter, 5th of 6, 16l behind Red Rookie (11-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Shang Tang (IRE) 28-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, brief headway into midfield before 2 out, soon lost touch, 6th of 8, 32 3/4l behind Stoner's Choice (12-0) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Barton Knoll 6-4fav (11-12) Jumped left at times, led, went left and hit 4 out, went left and hit 2 out, headed between last two, no extra, 2nd of 4, 7l behind On Springs (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
