held up in touch, pushed along approaching 6th, weakened from 3f out
tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 2f out, soon ridden, no impression
tracked leader, weakened 2f out, blundered last
held up towards rear, hit 6th, chased leaders 3f out, no impression from next
always towards rear
held up in rear, headway approaching 3f out, ridden next one pace
tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leader and keen, weakened when hit 3f out, tailed off
tracked leaders and keen, led 3rd, hit next, ran on well from 2f out
in touch when unseated rider 1st
SAFARI JOURNEY can continue his climb up the ranks at the main expense of Princeful and Norman The Great. The selection has a 7lb penalty to carry but has really come to himself since being switched to handicapping and is due to race from an 8lb higher mark in the future as a result of his recent successes. He has soft ground form on the level but his wins over hurdles have been achieved under quicker conditions so a weather watch is advised. Viscount Rossini has been partnered by Rhys Flint for his last two successes and his loss is a concern as is an 11lb rise for his latest success. Norman The Great doesn't always produce as much as seems likely in the finish but should be involved unlike Prideus who has questions to answer. Princeful was unfortunate to bump into a well regarded horse at Wincanton and is feared most now that he goes handicapping from a fair mark but we'll take Safari Journey to hit the target.
Norman The Great 7-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Izita Star (10-11) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Apr.
Prideus (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, well behind Laredo Sound (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Princeful (FR) 11-10fav (11-10) Prominent, chased leader after 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, not fluent and headed soon after last, no extra flat, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind James De Vassy (10-7) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Good Spirit (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, kept on from last, 5th of 10, 11l behind Izita Star (10-11) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Apr.
Circus of Dreams 13-2 (11-6) In touch, joined leaders 4th, led 3 out, headed and mistake 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 13, 9l behind Pterodactyl (11-6) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Kempley Green (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed 4th, led again 4 out, weakening when headed 2 out, 6th of 8, 14l behind Bazart (10-2) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Viscount Rossini 11-2 (10-3) Chased leader, led approaching 2 out, clear last, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr beating Approved Force (11-4) by 9l, 9 ran.
Like A Duke (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Chased clear leading pair, closed after 4th, led after next, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 14, 11l behind Bedizen (11-5) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Toshi (USA) 10-1 (11-3) Raced keenly, held up, steady headway 3 out, every chance next, kept on when bumped flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Top Mark (11-8) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Safari Journey (USA) 1-3fav (11-9) Chased leaders, led 5th, ridden when hung left and hit last, driven out, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Apr beating Sweet World (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.