held up towards rear, steady headway after 7th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on to challenge winner, flat, just denied
in touch, mistake 7th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakening when hung right after 2 out
led, headed 4th, weakened after 7th, soon tailed off
in touch, headway to track leaders 5th, ridden and weakening when mistake 3 out
tracked leaders, joined leader and mistake 3 out, led soon after, mistake last, all out and held on
mistake in rear, lost touch 5th
mid-division, driven approaching 5th, ridden 4 out soon weakened
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened after 3 out
tracked leader, led 4th, not fluent 4 out, ridden and joined next, headed soon after and hung left when weakening
mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden and weakened 3 out
in rear, lost touch 5th
Leading Contender looks to be just that here and is preferred to Carnival Town and I'm Lovin It. The selection finished behind Carnival Town last time but he has plenty of scope for improvement as his hurdling was far from fluent that day. He was a useful bumper horse and with a slight improvement in his hurdling he should prove tough to beat. Carnival Town is the obvious danger as he showed a game attitude to beat our selection last time but on these terms the tables should be turned. I'm Lovin It has got some fair bumper form but he flopped in the heavy ground when last seen out and he has been off the racecourse for over a year. He is probably worth opposing unless there is a strong market move and for the winner we are happy to stick with Leading Contender.
Carnival Town 14-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden to chase leader 2 out, led flat, all out, won at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs beating Leading Contender (11-0) by a hd, 16 ran.
Aitch Doubleyou (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, ran on, won at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) sft in May beating Curved Air (10-3) by 9l, 8 ran.
Danzig Conquest 50-1 (10-5) Led until 2nd, prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 7th of 16, 23l behind Beau Michel (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
I'm Lovin It (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Held up, steady headway from 7f out, hung left and weakened over 2f out, 6th of 11, 34l behind Asudo (10-11) at Chepstow 2m nhf (H) hvy in Nov '05.
Leading Contender (IRE) 4-9fav (11-0) Led, ridden 3 out, challenged and mistake 2 out, headed after last, no extra, 2nd of 16, hd behind Carnival Town (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs.
Master Eddy 25-1 (11-2) Led to halfway, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 13th of 20, 35l behind Bleak House (10-10) at Haydock 2m nhf (6) gs in Apr.
Melba Toast 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 16, 29l behind Beau Michel (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Nougat de L'Isle (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Led for 4f, chased winner, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 27l behind Carlitos (10-7) at Sandown 2m nhf (6) gf.
Painter Man (FR) 11-8jt-fav (10-12) Held up, headway 7th, every chance 3 out, ridden 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Cava Bien (10-5) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Stoney Drove (FR) 33-1 (11-2) Mid-division, effort 6th, weakened after next, 8th of 16, 35l behind Giovanna (10-9) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Maori Legend 66-1 (10-5) Held up last, ridden after 6th, kept on well to go 3rd flat, 3rd of 11, 21l behind Cruising River (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
