chased leader until 3rd, stayed handy, led 3 out, headed flat, no impression towards finish
chased leaders on inside, pushed along after 6th, weakened well before not fluent 3 out
held up, closed after 3rd, 2nd when not fluent 2 out, led flat, ran on well
led until 3 out, 3rd and beaten before last, one pace
chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd until before 3 out, weakened next, awkward last
in rear, pushed along and behind before 3 out, jumped left and not fluent 2 out, went 4th and kept on flat, never on terms
keen early, held up on outside, not fluent 2nd, closed after 6th, 4th and beaten from 2 out, no extra flat
NonRunner
NonRunner
Martila had a run under her belt before winning this in heavy going last year but is only 2lb higher today. Tonto's Spirit’s win at Cartmel came back in May and returns off an 11lb higher mark while Potters Story has gone up the same amount for winning at Ffos Las at the end of last year. Taxmeifyoucan has won a novices' race and Crezic a maiden hurdle but LE PATRIOTE (NAP) landed a handicap in this grade at Ascot back in February. He was in contention until the last obstacle at Chepstow on last month’s reappearance and gets the vote with a conditional’s allowance further helping his cause.
Chti Balko (FR) 11-2jfav (11-12) Chased leader, challenged 5th, led before next, ridden and headed last, no impression final 150 yards, kept on, 2nd of 10, 3 1/4l behind William Of Orange (10-6) at Haydock 2m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Taxmeifyoucan (IRE) 6-1 (9-13) Held up in touch, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace and no impression, 3rd of 5, 7 3/4l behind Arrowtown (9-6) at Ayr 2m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Sep.
Le Patriote (FR) 15-2 (11-3) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, effort when hit 3 out, 4th last, not quicken flat, 8th of 18, 4 1/4l behind Garo De Juilley (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Tonto's Spirit 11-8fav (12-0) Raced keenly, chased leader, led before 2 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in May beating Good Tradition (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Crezic (FR) 12-1 (9-10) Very slowly away, tailed off until closed on rear group 4f out, no chance and well behind final 3f, 12th of 13, 18 3/4l behind Caspar The Cub (9-5) at Kempton 1m 3f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct.
Martila (FR) 7-1 (10-11) In touch main group, close up 5th, ridden to chase front pair after 2 out to last, stayed pressing for modest 3rd flat until towards finish, no chance with leaders, 4th of 12, 21 1/4l behind Leapaway (10-8) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Beau Et Sublime (FR) 33-1 (11-9) Mid-division, in touch when not fluent 5th, close up 3 out, one pace and no impression when not fluent last, 7th of 10, 16l behind Equus Millar (11-13) at Perth 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Potters Story 9-4 (10-13) In touch, headway before 3 out, led before 2 out, kept on well, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Rayvin Black (11-12) by 21l, 6 ran.
Golden Jeffrey (SWI) 8-1 (11-12) Led until after 4th, lost place before 2 out, no extra flat, 6th of 10, 14 3/4l behind Equus Millar (11-13) at Perth 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.