mid-division, outpaced approaching 3 out, staying on in 8th when blundered last, no chance with leaders
mistake 3rd, always in rear
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out
led, mistake 2 out, ridden approaching last, headed flat, no extra towards finish
prominent, went 2nd 3rd until 2 out, soon slightly outpaced, rallied flat, ran on well towards finish, not reach winner
well in rear, pushed along 5th, hampered 2 out, some late headway, never dangerous
in touch, weakened 6th, behind when fell 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on well under pressure flat
in rear, stayed on under pressure approaching 2 out, never going pace to trouble leaders
mid-division, struggling 3 out, behind when pulled up before last
tracked leader to 3rd, remained handy, blundered 6th, weakened approaching last
prominent, ridden 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, never able to challenge
in touch, weakened after 3 out
in touch, keen early, improved approaching 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, challenged approaching last, led flat, driven out
in touch, not fluent 5th, struggling after next
not always fluent, always in rear
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
GALAXY ROCK appeals as the right type for this race and represents better value than the unbeaten Erzen whilst Wolf Moon could be one for the each-way money. It seems unlikely that there's another Punchestowns in this field although Erzen has done everything asked of him in good style and comes from a smart Flat family. However, plenty of four year olds have tried to win this race in the past ten years and none have been successful so we can also look to take on Silk Affair and Amore Mio. Great Endeavour would be of more interest if Timmy Murphy had elected to ride him but he's still worth a cautionary check as the trainer's father used to dominate this race. Mahonia didn't live up to expectations last term but he should relish the testing conditions and may yet be able to resume an upward curve from a mark that should be well within his scope. Sangfroid should go well but is proving difficult to catch right and of more appeal is Wolf Moon who was unbeaten over hurdles prior to his run at Towcester which should have put him spot on for this test. Balthazar King has been progressing well on quick ground but faces a stiffer test from his revised mark on ground that's unlikely to suit. Galaxy Rock progressed well once switched to handicapping in the spring to win three on the bounce and was only beaten a length into fourth on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow. His half-brother was effective with cut in the ground so the softer conditions should pose no problems for him and Galaxy Rock should be in the shake-up on the run up the hill.
Tisfreetdream (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden 9th, weakened quickly, tailed off, 23rd of 24, well behind Made In Japan (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Silk Affair (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon tracking leaders, challenged last, soon led, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m Grade 3 nov hcp hdl (4yo) (1) gs in Mar beating Ski Sunday (11-1) by 3l, 22 ran.
Mahonia (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 10, 23l behind Time For Rupert (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Erzen (IRE) 4-9fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, hit 2 out, cleverly, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in May beating Devon Native (10-2) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Amore Mio (GER) 11-1 (10-0) Led until after 2nd, chased clear leader, ridden and every chance after 3 out, weakened next, 11th of 12, 45l behind From Dawn To Dusk (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Balthazar King (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Made all, hit 7th, ridden and stayed on flat, won at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gf in Oct beating The Big Orse (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 3 ran.
Darstardly Dick (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Held up in rear, mistakes 3rd and 4th, fell 7th, in a race won by Tchico Polos (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f noc chs (2) gs, 6 ran.
Baily Storm (IRE) 8-15fav (11-5) Made all, not fluent 5th, pushed along briefly after next, racing lazily and jockey at work before 3 out, in command before last, ridden out, won at Fakenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Oct beating Shut The Bar (11-5) by 5l, 5 ran.
Adroit Approach (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased winner from 3 out, held last, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Roman Conquest (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Wellforth (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway to 2nd 4 out, ridden in 5th before straight, no impression after 2 out, kept on one pace, 8th of 18, 12l behind On The Other Hand (10-13) at Listowel 3m hcp hdl 8Evens23 in Sep.
Norman The Great 10-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden and headway under pressure before 2 out, no impression soon after, hung left flat, 5th of 12, 7l behind Dani's Girl (9-9) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Presque Perdre 7-1 (10-4) Led, not fluent 3 out, soon pushed along, narrowly headed just before 2 out, soon regained lead and ridden, edged right and headed close home, gamely regained lead post, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating Border Tale (10-3) by shd, 10 ran.
Sangfroid 9-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 6th, outpaced after 2out, not fluent last, edged left and stayed on flat, 5th of 14, 5l behind Right Option (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Oct.
Galaxy Rock (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out to chase leaders 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well flat, 4th of 16, 3/4l behind Dantari (11-1) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Wolf Moon (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, pushed along briefly after 8th, went second approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, no extra last, 4th of 7, 7l behind Rathcor (11-5) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Fruity O'Rooney 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division until ridden and weakened 4 out, 11th of 16, 47l behind Dantari (11-1) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Freddies Return (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up after 7th, in a race won by Hopkins (11-0) at Doncaster 3m beg chase (4) gs in Feb, 12 ran.
Great Endeavour (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Raced keenly in touch, effort approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, went left last, 17th of 27, 50l behind Ninetieth Minute (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Tullamore Dew (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden and hit 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 18, 14l behind Big Eared Fran (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f Grade 3 nov hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
