close up, pushed along 3 out, ridden and weakened next
keen led, jumped left at 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leader until ridden between 3 out/2 out, weakened flat
held up, headway between 3 out/2 out, no impression and hit last
in rear, ridden 3 out, hit next
held up, headway 4th close up, chased leader next, led 2 out, clear last, eased near finish
raced wide tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, lost place 4th, in rear when hit 6th
in touch, awkward 5th, soon in rear
Brian Hughes has been booked to partner TOMKEVI on three of his 42 career starts - and all three have resulted in a victory for the Rebecca Menzies gelding. A 6lb higher mark will make life difficult but conditions will suit so he gets the nod. Slanelough has proved an admirably consistent servant for Rose Dobbin this season and the tough Westerner gelding is another for the short-list, despite top weight. American Craftsman is interesting pitched into handicap company against his elders with course specialist Pistol and Tonto's Spirit also noted.
Slanelough (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, kept on to take 3rd place run-in, snatched 2nd place post, 2nd of 5, nk behind Blottos (10-13) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Tonto's Spirit 10-3jfav (12-2) Led, ridden after 3 out, soon headed, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Black Art (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Rhymers Stone 13-2 (10-6) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened before last, 7th of 9, 29 1/2l behind Elusive Theatre (10-6) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Tomkevi (FR) 85-40fav (11-4) Held up on inside, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, clear last, comfortably, won at Southwell 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Corlay (11-2) by 6l, 6 ran.
American Craftsman (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Outpaced in rear, never a factor, last of 12, dist behind Star Ascending (9-13) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Apache Jack (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Chased leader, 4th halfway, slow 4 out, ridden and no impression in 5th after next, not fluent 2 out and no extra, weakened, 7th of 9, 30l behind Our Boy Boru (11-11) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan.
Pistol (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, led run-in, kept on striongly, won at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Feb beating Cesar Collonges (11-12) by 5l, 12 ran.
Wyfield Rose 12-1 (11-4) Reluctant to jump off and led in start, well away, led before 2nd, headed before 2 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 6, 34 1/4l behind Johnny Go (10-10) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Modulus 7-1 (11-12) Chased leaders and pushed along at times, weakened after 7th, tailed off, 5th of 10, dist behind The Jam Man (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.