held up towards rear on outside, not fluent 8th, headway 3 out, chased winner before not fluent 2 out, challenged last, rider soon dropped whip, stayed on, held close home
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 8th, led approaching 2 out, pressed last, stayed on, driven out
prominent, led after 2nd, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
took keen hold in rear, behind 8th, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway 9th, weakened before 2 out
led until after 2nd, chased leader until approaching 8th, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, not fluent 5th or 6th, headway 7th, stumbled and unseated rider next
chased leaders, lost place 7th, closed next, one pace in 3rd 2 out, weakened before last
Too Many Chiefs won this last year but has been running poorly and, though 5lb lower, will need to do much better. Little Millie is the other distance winner in the line-up but she's disappointed after some strong form in the spring. Bhutan was racing in better company early this year and reappeared to land an amateurs' race in good style at Ludlow. He's an obvious threat but Reve, who easily won a maiden here in February, was pulled up on his only start over this trip. The Very Thing was running poorly for Olly Murphy earlier this year and has changed stables but KATY ROYAL showed that staying is her game when scoring over 3m3f at Sedgefield in January. She didn't run well in a better race at Doncaster next time but goes well fresh so gets the nod.
Bhutan (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 7th, challenged 3 out, led flat, stayed on, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Wilde Spirit (10-9) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Reve 4-1 (11-12) Close up, pushed along after 3 out, left 3rd from last, no impression, 3rd of 8, 30l behind Ruacana (11-2) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Too Many Chiefs (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) With leader, led 2nd, mistake 7th, ridden and headed before 2 out, no chance with clear pair between last 2, 3rd of 8, 30l behind Maison D'Or (10-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Quinlandio (IRE) 100-1 (10-3) Hampered start and slowly away, behind, hit 5th, mistake 2 out, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Katy Royal 9-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, lost place after 5 out, tailed off, at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Little Millie (IRE) 18-1 (11-7) In rear, pushed along 4 out, ridden after next, plugged on into remote 4th flat, never a threat, 4th of 8, dist behind Maison D'Or (10-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Gray Day (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Towards rear, mistake 3rd, pecked 5th, behind after next, 7th of 12, 26 3/4l behind Bhutan (11-9) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
The Very Thing (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up 4th and last throughout, outpaced and unable to go with leaders after 3 out, weakened between last 2, last of 4, 37l behind Craigmor (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) gf in May.
