led, clear 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, headed last 100 yards, kept on
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened 1f out
tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along 3f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 3rd, last 100 yards
dwelt, held up in rear, headway 2f out, raced wide over 1f out, kept on well to lead last 100 yards
dwelt, held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
tracked leader, pushed along 4f out, weakened inside final furlong
The weights suggest dual C&D winner Granny McPhee should take all the beating in this claimer but she's been largely out of sorts since winning here early last month and soft ground and the current form of her stable are other big negatives. Georgebernardshaw has plenty of ability but is often a law unto himself so we'll take the less complicated option represented by LANG SHINING. His last three wins have come on the all-weather but Jamie Osborne's seven-year-old has also won six times on turf and should strip fitter for his second to stablemate Uphold at Leicester last month. Dream Of Fortune looks best of the rest but will struggle to win on these terms.
Georgebernardshaw (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, 9th of 10, 8l behind Beaumont's Party (8-11) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
Dream of Fortune (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, chased winner inside final furlong, no impression, jockey took things easy last strides, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Visions Of Johanna (11-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f am sell stks (6) pol.
Lang Shining (IRE) 5-1 (9-8) Held up in last pair, headway 3f out, went 3rd 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Uphold (9-11) at Leicester 1m 2f clm stks (6) gf in May.
Granny McPhee 9-2 (9-7) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 4f out, ridden and hung left over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 40l behind Never Can Tell (9-3) at Chester 1m 4f fll hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (4) gf.
Grethel (IRE) 40-1 (7-11) Held up in rear, effort on outside when carried wide bend 2f out, no chance after, 9th of 12, 14l behind Kenyan Cat (9-5) at Chester 1m 2f fll hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Bright Applause 20-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, driven over 3f out, every chance when hung right 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Joyously (8-9) at Kempton 1m 2yo clm stks (6) pol in Sep.
