led to 4 out, lost place before 2 out, weakened last
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, chased leading pair next, rallied flat, went 2nd towards finish, not reached winner
mid-division, headway and in touch 4th, chased leaders after 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 4th, weakened 3 out
towards rear, headway into mid-division 3 out, never near leaders
held up mid-division on inside, headway 4 out, chased winner 2 out, soon ridden, kept on flat, lost 2nd towards finish
hit 1st, always behind
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, joined winner 4 out, driven and outpaced after next, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened approaching last
always behind
tracked leader, led narrowly 4 out, ridden between last, held on under pressure flat
mid-division, headway and in touch 4th, weakened 3 out
It would be some training feat to produce American Art or Fair Gale to win this after a long lay-off but market support for either could prove significant. Neither Dorabelle nor stablemate Danny Zuko make much appeal at the weights but Uttoxeter third Lean Burn wouldn't be without a chance and Midnight Opera is better than he showed at Newton Abbot last time. JOKER CHOKER is only lightly raced and did well to land a Ludlow handicap last time against more experienced opponents. He is 9lb higher here but has the scope to overcome that and is the one to beat.
Toshi (USA) 7-2 (11-6) Held up in touch in rear, not fluent 3rd, pushed along and switched left approaching 2 out, no impression, weakened before last, 5th of 6, 18l behind Plan A (11-12) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Dorabelle (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Chased leading duo until settled 4th after 2nd, ridden and no chance 3 out, left modest 3rd before 2 out, went left 2 out and last, tailed off, 3rd of 4, 28l behind The Jigsaw Man (11-0) at Sandown 2m Listed hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Midnight Opera 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, left 2nd before 5th, led after 2 out (usual 3 out), headed before last (usual 2 out), weakened on long flat, 6th of 12, 22l behind Kylenoe Fairy (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Joker Choker (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Chased clear leaders, closed 5th, led approaching 3 out, edged right before 2 out, ran on flat, won at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr beating Art Broker (10-7) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Word of Warning 8-1 (11-1) Held up, headway to take 3rd 6th until outpaced 3 out, soon well beaten, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Ascendant (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Apr.
Share Option 25-1 (11-9) Prominent, pulled hard, led 3rd, soon headed, lost place approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Big Robert (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Apr.
American Art (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to lead last, stayed on well, won at Cartmel 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in May '09 beating Dantari (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Morning Farewell 14-1 (11-8) Held up in rear and keen, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 33l behind Olympian (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Apr.
Danny Zuko (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) Held up in 5th, went 4th 7th, chased leaders and hit 3 out, chased winner soon after, no chance from 2 out, hit last, weakened to 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Extreme Conviction (11-3) at Bangor 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gs in Jul.
Fair Gale 13-8fav (11-7) Chased leaders, closer in 4th 4 out, led from next where slight mistake, strongly pressed and headed from after 2 out, on terms again last, stayed on best from last to edge ahead late run-in, won at Cork 2m 4yo mdn hdl gf in Jun '09 beating Totoman (11-7) by 1/2l, 24 ran.
Platin Grounds (GER) 10-1 (11-1) In touch, not fluent, lost place 6th, reminders after 8th, behind 10th, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Columbus Secret (11-11) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
King Ozzy (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Tracked winner throughout, left sole rival 3 out, driven and outpaced approaching next, kept on same pace, no impression, 2nd of 4, 9l behind Rackham Lerouge (11-0) at Towcester 2m nov chs (4) sft in Jan.
Lean Burn (USA) 7-2 (10-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led 3 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Olympian (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Apr.
