in rear, pushed along 10th, soon lost place, tailed off
led, headed 4 out, quickly weakened, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, every chance 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden and headed last, rallied to regain lead run-in, kept on well
held up behind, headway before 5 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, in touch before 4 out, one pace and no impression before 2 out
tracked leaders in 4th, mistake 3 out, ridden to lead last, soon headed, kept on and no chance with winner
Presenting Junior beat Firth Of The Clyde just over a length in this last year and is 5lb better off, though Martin Todhunter's course specialist has struggled to get his head in front this season. Full Shift was well backed in a Grade3 at Cheltenham and kept on for fourth. He should be prominent in this less-competitive contest while Definitly Red took his chance in the National Hunt Chase, though might not appreciate this big drop in trip. Orbasa wasn't beaten far over 2m1f at Ascot last time and looks better treated than stablemate Fago but DOUBLE SHUFFLE looks the one to beat. Always up with the pace, he ran a cracking race behind Ballyalton at Cheltenham considering his lack of experience and has the scope to defy a 3lb rise in the weights.
Firth Of The Clyde 9-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, in touch, ridden to press leader 2 out, led next, ran on, won at Carlisle 3m hcp (2) gs in Mar beating Milborough (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Fago (FR) 9-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, mistake 11th (foinavon), headway after 13th, mistake 15th, went 4th after 2 out, no impression, weakened from 2 out, went 4th after elbow, 4th of 13, 36 1/4l behind Bennys Mist (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Double Shuffle (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Led to 2nd, tracked leaders, led again narrowly 4 out, headed between last 2, kept on and every chance last, soon ridden, no extra in 3rd final 110 yards, 3rd of 20, 5l behind Ballyalton (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar.
Definitly Red (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 9th, lost place 17th, behind when blundered 3 out, fell 2 out, at Cheltenham 4m lst (1) gs in Mar.
Full Shift (FR) 7-1 (10-4) In touch, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, not much room on bend before next, soon ridden, one pace when not fluent last, kept on flat, no impression, 4th of 22, 7 3/4l behind Empire Of Dirt (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Presenting Junior (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd 8th, 2nd before 12th, ridden before 3 out, no impression when lost 2nd approaching last, one pace in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 5, 7 3/4l behind Un Noble (10-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Orbasa (FR) 11-10fav (11-12) Held up tracking leaders, went 3rd 8th, bumped soon after 3 out, ridden into 2nd 2 out, no impression before the last, one pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Big Jim (11-3) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
