held up towards rear, steady headway from over 4f out, chased leaders into straight, faded approaching final 1f
held up in rear, niggled along halfway, pushed along 5f out, soon outpaced
held up in rear, ridden along over 4f out, soon struggling, tailed off
took keen hold early, held up towards rear, niggled along halfway, struggling from 5f out, tailed off
close up, pushed along over 6f out, soon lost place tailed off
took keen hold in mid-division, headway on outside over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, faded final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f
mid-division, driven along 3f out, soon beaten
made all, ridden and stayed on well final 2f, unchallenged
tracked leading pair, chased winner over 3f out until over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
always rear division, tailed off
always prominent, ridden and kept on into 2nd over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
Paul Nicholls has had a frustrating start to the campaign, but he can take the concluding bumper with his debutant IRISH AIRMAN, with previous winners Bangkok Pete and Secure my Position the others to consider. Nodforms Violet can be expected to have come on for his reappearance run at Kelso where he was only just held. He has looked a little one paced however in all his three outings to date and is passed over. Secure My Position won nicely on his debut at Worcester but may struggle under a penalty, a remark which also applies to Bangkok Pete, although his debut success was more emphatic. Irish Airman is a half brother to the useful In Contrast and this season's winner Templer, and he should arrive here fit enough to score. The market should be heeded but Irish Airman can swoop late and collect under Ruby Walsh.
Bangkok Pete (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Always prominent, led on bit over 2f out, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gd in May beating Great Reason (11-2) by 9l, 16 ran.
Secure My Position (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, shaken up briefly over 6f out, headway on outside over 4f out, ridden 3f out, went 2nd 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well to draw clear inside final furlong, won at Worcester 2m NH flat (5) gd in Sep beating Shannon Bob (11-0) by 6l, 11 ran.
Carraigh Na Loine High-rise gelding out of Miss Betsy.
Flight Wise 150-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, lost touch final 5f, tailed off, 14th of 15, well behind Double Pride (10-12) at Warwick 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Jan.
Fun Guy 33-1 (10-12) Held up, lost touch after running wide on bend 9f out, headway 4f out, stayed on final 2f, 4th of 9, 16l behind Pendower (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in May.
Inishmor (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division until weakened over 4f out, last of 19, well behind Bensalem (11-0) at Sandown 2m NH flat (4) sft in Nov.
Irish Airman (IRE) Broadway Flyer gelding out of Ballinamona Lady.
Island Jim (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 11, 15l behind Secure My Position (11-0) at Worcester 2m NH flat (5) gd in Sep.
Master Cardor Visa (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Ld & disp til hdd 3out, not qckn bef last but rallied ko, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Ballyburke (11-7) at Necarne 3m ire ptp in May.
Nodforms Violet (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Soon led, made most after ridden over 1f out, soon hard pressed, headed final 75 yards, kept on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Monogram (11-0) at Kelso 2m NH flat (6) gd.
Present To You (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Ww in mid div, prog to tr ldrs 3out, 5th 3out, went 3rd 2out & ld bef last, ro, won at Ballingarry 3m ire ptp in Jun beating Burnthill (11-7) by 5l, 12 ran.
Yes Minister (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, tracked leader halfway, weakened over 3f out, 11th of 14, 29l behind Hudibras (10-9) at Lingfield 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Natural Spring Generous filly out of Highbrook.
