towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, ridden before 2 out, soon challenged, one pace after last
held up in touch and towards rear, headway before 5 out, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, headway before 4 out, led 2 out, headed last, kept on and held run-in
led to 2nd, tracked leader, led last, held on well run-in
with leader, led 2nd, headed 2 out, ridden before last, soon weakened
BURBANK has the highest rating of these having finished fourth in last month’s Neptune Investment at Cheltenham. If he runs up to that form, Nicky Henderson’s charge is probably the one to beat as he’s getting 3lb from recent winners Jimmy Breekie, Sir Antony Browne and Some Invitation and his yard won this with a short-priced favourite in 2015. The latter is the most interesting of the aforementioned trio as he represents last year’s winning connections and his only failure so far came on very soft ground. The mare Kelka only won a handicap last time and doesn’t look good enough while this may be too short for Give Me A Copper.
Jimmy Breekie (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Soon tracked leaders, 3rd from 3rd, challenged between horses between last 2, soon disputed lead, left in lead from last, stayed on well run-in, won at Navan 2m mdn hvy in Apr beating Coeur Joyeux (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 20 ran.
Sir Antony Browne 8-11fav (11-6) Tracked leaders in 4th, challenged 3 out, driven to lead when ran green approaching next, ridden and wandered between last 2, headed narrowly flat, rallied to regain lead inside final 100 yards, won at Newbury 2m (4) gs in Mar beating Most Celebrated (10-13) by 1l, 5 ran.
Some Invitation (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Chased leaders, headway to lead approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f (4) gs in Mar beating Walt (11-7) by 10l, 4 ran.
Burbank (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Behind, outpaced after 4 out, headway under pressure before last, ridden and edged right flat, stayed on to take 4th near finish, never nearer, 4th of 15, 7 3/4l behind Willoughby Court (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gs in Mar.
Give Me A Copper (IRE) 5-4fav (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Constantine Bay (11-5) at Doncaster 3m (1) gd in Jan.
Kelka 11-4fav (11-9) Made all, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (3) hvy in Mar beating Nuts Well (12-1) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.