tracked leaders, mistake 5th, challenged 2 out, every chance last, soon ridden and unable to quicken, no impression with winner flat
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, soon driven and one pace, no impression from next
held up in touch, outpaced when ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, steady headway after 4 out, challenged on bit after next, led narrowly approaching 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on well
raced keenly, tracked leaders on inside, driven and outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led, headed 3 out, soon ridden and lost place, weakened between last 2
tracked leader, led narrowly 3 out, headed approaching last, ridden and kept on same pace after last
NonRunner
NonRunner
Martila won this on heavy ground in 2017 but could only manage fourth last year while Leoncavallo represents last year’s winning yard but is 9lb higher than when last winning a handicap. Nietzsche can race off the same mark as when narrowly beaten over fences at Sedgefield recently and Elvis Mail makes his handicap debut after landing a novices hurdle at Kelso back in April. The Steward won easily at Cartmel in August but has a 10lb rise to contend with and FANFAN DU SEUIL is preferred. The latter showed plenty of ability in juvenile hurdles last season culminating in a respectable fifth in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in March and should be competitive in handicaps this year.
Leoncavallo (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Keen early, in touch, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression when not fluent last, weakened flat, 8th of 17, 7 1/4l behind Le Patriote (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp (1) gd in May.
Fanfan Du Seuil (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, awkward 2nd, headway on outside after 4 out, shaken up 3 out, soon beaten, well held 2 out, 7th of 9, 31l behind Pentland Hills (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Nietzsche 2-1 (11-12) Tracked winner, ridden to lead approaching last, headed soon after last, ran on, 2nd of 4, nk behind Tonto's Spirit (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m (4) sft in Oct.
Elvis Mail (FR) 2-9fav (11-6) Mid-division, headway 7th, led before 2 out, clear approaching last, easily, won at Kelso 2m 2f (4) gs in Apr beating Get Help (11-0) by 7l, 12 ran.
Keyboard Gangster (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, soon chasing leaders, effort 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Cornerstone Lad (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
The Steward (USA) 33-1 (10-6) Chased leader, led 2 out, clear before last, stayed on well, won at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Aug beating Beeno (11-11) by 8l, 10 ran.
Martila (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders on outside, challenged after 5th, no impression on winner after 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Goldencard (11-5) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Fin And Game (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, struggling in rear 6th, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Lake Takapuna (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Towards rear, niggled along after 4 out, progress before 3 out, no impression before 2 out, weakened after last, never a factor, 6th of 13, dist behind All The Answers (11-6) at Galway 2m 2f hcp sft in Aug.