held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, switched left entering final furlong, kept on
always towards rear
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders on outer, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
with leader early, in touch, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace
held up mid-division and keen, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out
chased leaders and keen, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, led 1f out, stayed on well
always towards rear
led, ridden over 2f out, headed final furlong
held up towards rear, never dangerous
slowly into stride, in rear and soon detached, tailed off over 7f out
held up mid-division, headway on outer 3f out, challenged over 1f out, kept on same pace
The Blue Dog looked like returning to winning ways over this C&D last week when travelling smoothly but was caught close home by Dance For Julie. She shouldn't be written off despite her four seconds since completing a double in February. Tribal Myth has never raced beyond a mile so this is new territory but Sharakti has no problems with the trip and will be better for a recent run at Doncaster. Zaplamation won this a year ago from Blue Spinnaker and Brockfield. The placed horses are very much better off at the weights and the latter may come out on top this time despite a long absence. Kingdom Of Munster ran well at Cheltenham and though likely to need further than this Paul Hanagan will ensure his stamina comes into play. He looks a danger to all but ELTHEEB, another who has been hurdling but who made a winning reappearance at Goodwood last season, is reasonably handicapped and gets the nod.
Zaplamation (IRE) 7-1fav (9-1) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, some headway over 1f out, never dangerous, 8th of 20, 13l behind Frontline Phantom (8-7) at Doncaster 1m 2f app hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Eltheeb 8-1 (9-6) Raced wide held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, kept on, one pace, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Piano (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct.
Baltimore Jack (IRE) 9-1 (8-13) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 8l behind Fleetwoodsands (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Sharakti (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) In touch, switched right over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 6th of 20, 11l behind Frontline Phantom (8-7) at Doncaster 1m 2f app hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Donna Elvira 11-1 (8-10) Held up in touch, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 13l behind Kiama Bay (8-13) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Mar.
Politbureau 20-1 (8-4) Always towards rear, last of 15, 27l behind Masked Dance (9-7) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Mar.
Aegean Destiny 9-1 (8-3) In touch, every chance well over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, lost 3rd inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 7l behind Ocean Transit (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) hvy in Nov.
The Blue Dog (IRE) 3-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, smooth headway on outer over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and pressed inside final furlong, headed last 100 yards, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 5, nk behind Dance For Julie (9-4) at Beverley 1m 2f fll hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Kingdom Of Munster (IRE) 11-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, not quicken over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 7l behind Time Travel (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Mar.
Tribal Myth (IRE) 5-1fav (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Hits Only Jude (8-2) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Blue Spinnaker (IRE) 16-1 (8-9) Dwelt, behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, never dangerous, 12th of 20, 20l behind Frontline Phantom (8-7) at Doncaster 1m 2f app hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Brockfield 12-1 (9-1) Raced keenly, tracked leading pair to over 6f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out, never troubled leaders, 4th of 8, 11l behind Amir Pasha (8-11) at Haydock 1m 4f app hcp (5) sft in Aug.
Bollin Freddie 12-1 (9-11) Prominent, led 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 11l behind Hunters Belt (9-6) at Southwell 1m 4f app hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Nov.
Tilos Gem (IRE) 7-2 (9-9) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, never able to challenge, 5th of 14, 9l behind Danceintothelight (8-8) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Sep.
Brasingaman Eric 100-1 (8-11) Chasd leaders, pushed along 4f out, weakened soon after, tailed off, 11th of 12, 43l behind Cultivar (9-0) at Haydock 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gf in May.
