slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened soon after
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, no extra final furlong
tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, clear 1f out, stayed on strongly
led until ridden over 3f out, weakened rapidly, tailed off
in touch, ridden and weakened approaching final 2f
slowly into stride, held up in rear, never on terms
chased leaders, pushed along and went 2nd 3f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, lost 2nd near finish
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, went 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
held up in rear, never involved, tailed off
towards rear, weakened and behind final 3f, tailed off
Pertuis won twice over course and distance last year including this race. He's back on a winning mark but both those wins came on fast ground. Astra Hall won for the first time since 2013 when successful at Pontefract last time and makes less appeal raised 6lb while Next Edition's victory over 2m at Wolverhampton was also his only success since 2013. Deep Resolve is penalised for winning at Southwell so a chance is taken on QATEA, without a win over hurdles since joining Donald McCain but a winner in testing going on the Flat at Sligo last year and racing off a similar mark today.
Deep Resolve (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, chased leaders over 4f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on under pressure to lead close home, won at Southwell 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Apr beating Star Ascending (9-4) by hd, 11 ran.
Next Edition (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, chased winner over 2f out, no impression, 2nd of 13, 11l behind Mirsaale (9-8) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp (5) sft in Apr.
Aldreth 12-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, weakened well over 2f out, 6th of 7, 15 3/4l behind Maoi Chinn Tire (9-12) at Catterick 2m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Astra Hall 3-1jfav (8-7) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, hard driven inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Apr beating Tamayuz Magic (9-5) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Qatea (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
San Cassiano (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Led, driven and headed over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened 1f out, 12th of 16, 28l behind Bertie Moon (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Apr.
Pertuis (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Always towards rear, 9th of 11, 29 3/4l behind Card High (9-4) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Moon Over Rio (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last, at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Frightened Rabbit (USA) 7-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2 out, soon outpaced, weakened before last, 5th of 9, 22 3/4l behind Kid Valentine (11-0) at Hexham 2m (4) sft in Mar.
Applejack Lad 80-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, tailed off 4 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Jetstream Jack (12-0) at Musselburgh 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb.
Whitchurch 18-1 (8-12) Always behind, last of 16, dist behind Bertie Moon (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Apr.
That Be Grand 20-1 (8-10) Held up mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, dist behind Alphabetical Order (10-0) at Redcar 2m hcp (6) hvy in Mar.
