always behind, lost touch 9th, pulled up before 14th
prominent to 2nd, lost touch 15th, pulled up before 3 out
soon prominent, mistake 9th, ridden and weakened 16th
made all, ridden 3 out, ridden out
held up rear, headway 12th, ridden and weakened 4 out
in rear, headway to go prominent 2nd, ridden and weakened 11th, pulled up before last
in rear, lost touch 10th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, mistake 8th, weakened 15th, pulled up before 2 out
always prominent, close up and ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 9th, ridden to chase leaders from 15th, every chance 2 out, kept on
held up mid-division, headway to go in touch 11th, ridden to chase winner approaching last, one pace
held up, headway after 12th, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, one pace when not fluent last
Premium First gets the confident vote here with Latzod'alm and Birkwood rating the main dangers. The selection has been in the form of his life between the flags of late will love the ground and if he copes with these regulation fences he will be very hard to beat. Latzod'alm rates the main danger as he is another that has been in good form of late but last time he encountered regulation fences his completion rate was very poor and with this in mind he looks worth taking on. Birkwood is another that has been in good form of late but all his best efforts have come on a much softer surface and he looks opposable on that basis. Of the remainder Tooley Park has improved with each run and could go well at a price but this looks his toughest assignment and his overall profile leaves him with a little to find and with this in mind we are happy to return to Premium First who looks the most progressive horse in the race.
Archbishop 6-1 (12-0) (cp) a cl up; led 5-8 & 3 out-last; no ex u.p flat, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Matrix (12-0) at Lockinge 3m ptp gd in Apr.
Latzod'alm (FR) 4-5fav (12-0) A.p; led 2 out; r.o wl, won at Brampton Bryan 3m ptp gd in Apr beating Four Opinions (12-3) by a nk, 5 ran.
New Lodge Express (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Went 2nd 7-14; led & lft clr 2 out; easy, won at Paxford 3m ptp frm in Apr beating Stormy Pass (12-0) by 12l, 5 ran.
Premium First (IRE) 4-9fav (12-0) won at Bitterley 3m ptp gd in Apr beating Which Pocket (12-0) by 2l, 6 ran.
Tooley Park 7-4 (12-0) won at Mollington 3m ptp gf in Apr beating Mussel Buoy (12-4) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Touch Of Flame 1-4fav (12-0) Held up; went 2nd 5; jnd wnr 3 out; held nr fin, 2nd of 3, nk behind Puzzleman (12-0) at Kingston St Mary 3m ptp gf in Apr.
Gemster 5-4 (10-7) A.p; lft in ld 10; clr 2 out; easy, won at Paxford 3m ptp frm in Apr beating Hi Tech Man (11-0) by 10l, 8 ran.
Birkwood 6-1 (11-7) Led 2nd, made rest, stayed on strongly flat, won at Kelso 3m 1f mdn hts chs (5) sft in Apr beating Natiain (12-0) by 8l, 12 ran.
