always behind, soon struggling
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, held on well
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd towards finish, always held
towards rear, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
led, headed over 1f out, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish
towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression
Shelford is a smart jumper on his day though he's been out of form and has changed stables. Isharah has also been running poorly over hurdles but if Master Archer is ever going to win a race it could be today. Runner-up eight times in succession on the Flat, he did nothing wrong behind Denmead at Kempton but once again has gone up in the weights and may find one to good again. ON FIRE showed his liking for this trip when finishing strongly to catch today's rival Stormin Tom at Ripon then took a fierce hold in a much better race at Musselburgh. He looks well enough handicapped to go in again and can confirm the form with Tim Easterby's charge. Neither Gabrial's King, who has won around here and also over the trip, nor Omotesando, whose only start over the trip resulted in a victory at Wolverhampton, can be ruled out in a tricky finale.
Shelford (IRE) 3-1fav (11-10) Held up, closed on outside 3rd, challenged 13th, dived left into rival 3 out, beaten after, mistake 2 out, 5th of 10, 15 3/4l behind Above Board (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Isharah (USA) 16-1 (11-5) Always in rear, reminders after 2nd, struggling 6th, tailed off after 4 out, 12th of 16, dist behind My Escapade (11-1) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in May.
Master Archer (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) Tracked leader over 2f, handy 3rd, 2nd again and challenged 2f out, ridden and every chance but out-battled inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Denmead (9-5) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Jun.
On Fire 9-2 (9-7) Led 2f, tracked leader, driven over 3f out, ridden and lost place over 2f out, soon outpaced, no chance with leaders when lost 4th inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 8 1/4l behind Bedrock (9-10) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gf in Jun.
Gabrial's King (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, off the pace in 5th, ridden 2f out, weakened soon after, last of 8, 10l behind Lorelina (9-7) at Chester 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Stormin Tom (IRE) 7-2 (8-10) Prominent, raced freely, pushed along over 2f out, soon lost place, 5th of 8, 2 3/4l behind Stone The Crows (9-5) at Carlisle 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Omotesando 14-1 (9-3) Pressed winner, challenged over 3f out, led briefly over 2f out, soon ridden, every chance over 1f out until inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Akamanto (9-4) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp (5) gf in Jun.
