behind, headway into mid-division on outer after 3rd, lost place after 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, well held before last
tracked leaders to before 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened before last, tailed off
mid-division, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden to chase front pair after 2 out, one pace before last, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, not reach winner
prominent, outpaced after 2 out, soon lost place, no impression before last, stayed on to take 3rd post, not reach front pair
prominent, driven to chase winner after 2 out, ridden after last, kept on same pace and held flat, lost 2 places near finish
made all, ridden after last, stayed on well
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, never on terms, weakened before last
always in rear, lost touch before 3 out, tailed off
Micky Hammond's pair Tuscan Gold and Russian Royale have both been running on the Flat and could figure if their jumping holds up. BORUMA was second over course and distance last month and has an experienced amateur on board. Racing off the same mark, he may prove too strong for last week's Hexham scorer Sleep In First, who has a penalty to carry. Smart Ruler is sure to have benefited from a recent run here and looks best of the rest.
Smart Ruler (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Held up, always behind, 7th of 12, 20 3/4l behind Ash Park (11-6) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Tuscan Gold 9-2 (9-2) Keen in rear, pushed along 6f out, some late headway, 5th of 11, 14l behind Bulas Belle (9-4) at Pontefract 2m 1f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Russian Royale 20-1 (8-8) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 21l behind Shrewd (9-7) at York 1m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Boruma (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Held up behind, headway after 3 out, driven after next, chased front pair after last, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd closing stages, no impression with winner, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Tekthelot (10-2) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in May.
Sleep In First (FR) 9-4fav (11-12) Made most, blundered 2 out (usual 3 out), soon narrowly headed and pushed along, led again before last, in command when ridden out flat, eased towards finish, won at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gs in Jun beating My Escapade (11-9) by 7l, 11 ran.
Astrum 8-1 (11-4) With leaders, ridden before 8th, soon weakened, tailed off, soon pulled up, at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Wisty (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Prominent and disputed lead, headed before 3rd where not fluent, 2nd halfway, pushed along after 3 out and soon no extra, 10th of 14, at Wexford 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Jun.
Roja Dove (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced between last 2, weakened before last, 4th of 11, 22 1/2l behind Smadynium (11-0) at Hexham 2m (5) gs in Apr.
Henry Oliver (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, led before 2 out, ridden and headed last, no extra, 3rd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Magnolia Ridge (11-2) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gd in May.
