mid-division, raced keenly, headway 5th, chased winner after 3 out, jumped left 2 out, hanging left when no impression approaching last, lost 2nd towards finish
tracked leaders, hit 4th, ridden approaching 7th, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 8th, ridden after 3 out, 8th when fell 2 out
chased leaders, mistake 5th, riden after next, weakened approaching 8th, tailed off
tracked leaders until not fluent and weakened 8th
led to 2nd, chased winner until after 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, headway 8th, no extra last
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, weakened approaching 2 out
slowly away, in rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, not fluent 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, not clear run on inside after 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, kept on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
prominent, lost place approaching 6th, soon behind
mid-division, not much room and stumbled approaching 7th, behind approaching 3 out
tracked leader, led 2nd, ridden clear when not fluent last, ran on well
STRATFORD STROLLER is fancied to add to his tally. Ruby Valentine and Danish Monarch are obvious threats, while All Roads Lead can also go well at fair odds. The last named won at Southwell in April and has held his form well since then. He has experience of this course and is capable of making the frame - especially if all 16 stand their ground. Nick Scholfield got a good tune out of Danish Monarch at Uttoxeter eight days ago and will be keen to get leg up on this consistent type. However, the gelding looks weighted to the limit at the moment. Ruby Valentine won by eight lengths here the other day and has to be respected on that form alone. However, having struggled off this sort of mark before, she now faces a stiff test under a 7lb penalty. Therefore, Stratford Stroller, who has bags more scope for improvement, gets the nod on this occasion. The mount of Tony McCoy looked a useful stayer in the making when landing a similar race at Worcester last time out and, as this isn't really that much tougher, Stratford Stroller is fancied to brush aside his modest penalty.
Chinara (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway 7th, ridden when left 2nd 2 out, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Bathwick Man (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
Peters Star (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 15th of 18, well behind Cassius (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Stratford Stroller (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Held up, headway after 4 out, led on bit 2 out, kept on well, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft beating Phoenix Des Mottes (11-12) by 6l, 8 ran.
Tootsie Too 10-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway when jumped right 8th, ridden when not fluent and jumped right 3 out, soon weakened, jumped right last, 5th of 14, 34l behind Aberdeen Park (10-12) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
All Roads Lead (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 8th, chased winner after 3 out, no extra last, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Arctic Shadow (11-3) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Kanonkop 18-1 (10-13) Close up, led after 3rd, headed approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Jayne's Crusader (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Peaceful Means (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, led after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, left 2nd last until towards finish, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Dirar (11-4) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
John Charles (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Led, headed 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by Elaala (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jun, 17 ran.
Blossom King (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Not jumped well, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by All Three Fables (11-2) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May, 13 ran.
Cloudier 15-2 (10-2) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th or 7th, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Persian Warrior (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Danish Monarch 10-3fav (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, challenged 2 out, soon edged right, led flat, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs beating Little Firecracker (10-8) by 1l, 10 ran.
Clear The Way (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Mid-division, blundered 3rd, reminders 12th, soon struggling, behind when blundered 14th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Ortega (9-7) at Southwell 3m 2f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Ruby Valentine (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 7th, went 2nd 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, in command last, ran on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gd beating Kijivu (11-9) by 8l, 13 ran.
Deadline (UAE) 4-1fav (10-3) Very mulish before start, slowly away, in rear, pushed along after 5th, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 3rd flat, nearest finish, 3rd of 14, 13l behind Bathwick Man (11-8) at Stratford 2m 3f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd.
Smart John 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent 6th, mistake 9th, ridden and weakened after next, tailed off, 12th of 15, well behind Simple Glory (10-3) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Jun.
Pistol At Dawn (IRE) 150-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway 5th, went 3rd when mistake 8th, weakened after 2 out, not fluent last, 3rd of 12, 22l behind Vasodilator (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in Apr.
