in touch, weakening when mistake 11th
chased leaders, pushed along before 5 out, weakened 3 out
led until before 6th where dropped to 3rd, pushed along and went 2nd before 2 out until 2 out, kept on same pace in 3rd
mid-division, steady headway approaching 3 out, 2nd next, kept on same pace run-in, no chance with winner
chased leader until after 5th, 2nd again next, led going well 4 out, clear next, stayed on strongly
mid-division, headway tracking leaders travelling well before 5 out, mistake and rider lost iron briefly next, weakened 2 out
mistake 7th, always towards rear
held up in rear, mistake 11th, tailed off
chased leaders on inside, pecked 2nd, jumped slowly next, mistake and lost place 9th, outpaced 5 out
chased leaders, 2nd after 5th, led before 6th, pecked 5 out, headed next, chased winner until weakened before 2 out
NonRunner
NonRunner
Another tricky puzzle for punters. Theo was staying on strongly at Kelso six days ago and has another quarter-mile to cover here. He should go well if this doesn’t come too soon and stablemate Caid Du Lin would also have a chance on his best form. Templehills is looking dangerously well treated and Activial should be far away if fully wound-up. Charbel has had wind surgery since last seen and won this last year off a 3lb lower mark. Doitforthevillage is another to consider but VALDEZ was running well last season without getting his just desserts and has been comparatively lightly raced for his age. Grand servant The Bay Birch is preferred to Capeland of the remainder.
Whisper (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Held up behind, struggling 4 out, lost touch when not fluent 3 out and again next, never a threat, 7th of 9, 32 1/2l behind Canyon City (10-0) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in May.
Charbel (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 12th until jumped slowly and lost place next, rallied 15th, hit 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, dist behind Black Corton (11-3) at Sandown 2m 7f (1) gd in Apr.
Activial (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Hampered 1st, always behind, 20th of 27, dist behind Cadmium (11-2) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Caid Du Lin (FR) 20-1 (11-4) Always in rear, jumped right 1st, pushed along after 8th, lost touch 4 out, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Ornua (11-4) at Aintree 2m (1) gd in Apr.
The Bay Birch (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Always prominent, led after 10th, left clear 3 out, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Troubled Soul (10-1) by 9l, 7 ran.
Theo (IRE) 17-2 (10-7) Held up in rear, not fluent 3 out, hampered on bend just after, headway before last, went 2nd towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Mcgroarty (11-0) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Doitforthevillage (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Mid-division on inside, headway 3 out, chased winner turning in, ridden after last, never able to challenge, lost well held 2nd final 120 yards, 3rd of 27, 9 1/4l behind Cadmium (11-2) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Marracudja (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 7th to track leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 6, 6 3/4l behind Double W's (11-1) at Perth 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Templehills (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Tracked winner, blundered and lost place 12th, left well behind from 4 out, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind King Of Realms (10-11) at Warwick 3m hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Aintree My Dream (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, not fluent next, hit 6th, soon pulled up, at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gd in Sep.
Valdez 5-2 (11-11) Tended to jump right, tracked leaders, went 2nd and poised to challenge after 3 out, not fluent last, ridden and one pace flat, switched inside and kept on towards finish, not quite reach winner, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Gala Ball (11-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Capeland (FR) 2-1 (11-11) Led, jumped well, strongly challenged 2 out, headed soon after, no extra approaching last, last of 4, 6 1/4l behind Eddiemaurice (10-0) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
