mid-division, headway on inner 6th, left in lead 3 out, ridden out
mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 8th, weakening in 3rd when fell 2 out
prominent, ridden and lost place after 6th
chased leaders, ridden and left 3rd 2 out, soon weakened
held up, headway on inner 8th, challenged on bit 2 out, ridden and every chance last, not quicken flat
in touch, blundered 8th, soon weakened
held up mid-division, weakened from 8th
held up, ridden after 6th, soon tailed off
held up, ridden after 6th, weakened next
led, about 2 lengths clear when fell 3 out
prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
The drop back in trip should suit Ottoman better than San Marco here, and Richard Guest's charge can turn the tables on their recent Stratford running, with Greensmith Lane, Musally, Uncle Max and Miss Skippy others who could be involved. Ottoman was beaten three-and-a-half lengths by San Marco at Stratford last time, but has a 2lb pull here and should be the one of the pair that will appreciate the drop back to two-and-a-half miles more. A decent jumper, he can reverse form. San Marco will clearly be no back number, but he doesn't look to be favoured by having to go quicker and is likely to find his rival too good this time. Greensmith Lane has a nice pipe opener at Worcester earlier in the month. Toby Balding's charge is high enough in the weights, but loves fast ground and with the cobwebs blown off he can improve here and may give the selection most to do. Musally has gone up 6lb for winning at Ludlow in April, when last seen out. He will appreciate trip and ground but does not always go well fresh so has a bit to do here. Uncle Max is in good form, handles the conditions well and won at this trip at Worcester last time. He is due to go up in the weights soon so he looks sure to go well again from this mark, while Miss Skippy has also shown form in small races and she looks set to continue that over a trip that will suit her even better. Nevertheless Ottoman is ideally suited by conditions and he gets our vote.
