held up in touch, steady headway approaching 4 out, chased winner soon after, ridden and no impression approaching 2 out
chased leaders until ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up, steady headway approaching 4 out, stayed on same pace after next
took keen hold early, settled 3rd until tracked leader 5th, led approaching 4 out, came well clear from 2 out, very easily
chased leader until 5th, soon lost place and in rear, tailed off
held up in rear, steady headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders and disputing 2nd from next, ridden and no impression from 2 out
held up in touch until dropped to rear approaching 4 out, tailed off
made most until headed approaching 4 out, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off
Paul Nicholls won this race last year with Pride Of Dulcote and he can repeat the dose today with the ex-French ROYAL COLLONGES; fellow Gallic import Chamirey may prove to be the best of the rest. The selection has only had one start so far, when filling third place behind Vinsermo at Pau in a three-year-old race. The Potts are new owners to the yard so Mr Nicholls will be keen to impress and this half-brother to Neptune Collonges looks sure to feature highly. Tell Masini was a point-to-point winner at Bartlemy when last seen in May and needs a market check on this debut under rules, Paktol Des Brosses is returning from a hefty absence, whilst Paddy Live has arguably the best form of those to have raced in this country with a recent third to Qianshan Leader at Bangor. Finmere has run in some good races and cannot be underestimated, however a bigger danger is likely to be Chamirey. Alan King's son of Cadoudal has plenty of experience from some Graded races in France and whenever, wherever he went he kept bumping into the same horse called Shekira. Those hips don't lie and neither does his official rating of 130 so he looks an obvious threat. A good way to end the card, and we will just side with Royal Collonges.
Chamirey (FR) (10-10) 6th of 8, 13l behind Chestnut Charlie (10-7) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 3f hdl hvy in Apr '08.
Finmere (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) In touch, ridden and lost place 6th, soon no impression, 6th of 13, 30l behind Kayf Aramis (10-11) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Knight In The City (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) Mid-division, pushed along after 4th, soon struggling, 7th of 15, 31l behind Dreamy Sweeney (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Tell Massini (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Ld/disp, went clr from 2out, sow, won at Bartlemy 3m ire ptp gd in May beating Whats On The Menu (12-0) by 4l, 18 ran.
Rhum (FR) 10-1 (10-13) Chased leader, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 12, 37l behind Now This Is It (10-11) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Sep.
Royal Collonges (FR) (10-3) 3rd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Vinseremo (10-3) at Pau(FR) 2m 1f hdl in Dec.
Lupita (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Towards rear, pushed along 5th, blundered next, rider lost irons and pulled up before next, in a race won by Dawn At Sea (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Aug, 17 ran.
Me Julie 50-1 (10-5) With leader, led after 2nd, headed and not fluent 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, hit last, 8th of 16, 34l behind Edgefour (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Paddy Live (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, not much room 2 out, staying on encouragingly when switched left between last 2, hit last, ran on to take 3rd flat, never near to challenge, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Qianshan Leader (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd.
Paktol Des Brosses (FR) 3-1 (12-0) Led 13; comf, won at Erw Lon 3m ptp in Feb deadheating with Tokpela (12-12), 6 ran.
