pressed leader, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out
made all, led narrowly, pushed along before 2 out, forged away after 2 out, stayed on strongly, always doing enough
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost position after 4 out, in touch and ridden before 2 out, rallied run-in, never a danger
chased leaders, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, kept on until no extra run-in
in rear, in touch, not fluent 3 out and pushed along, no real progress
in touch, towards rear, hit 6th, disputing close 4th 3 out, hung left approaching 2 out, ridden before last where not fluent and stumbled on landing, stayed on but no impression on winner flat
in touch towards rear, not fluent 2nd, not fluent 3 out behind leaders, ridden before last, plugged on same pace
Ben Lilly has come good this season and stays well while Stratton Oakmont got off the mark in a three-runner race at Southwell last month. Lepashe was just beaten off a 2lb higher mark over course and distance early in the year but hasn’t built on that. JEM IN EM ran in snatches when only fourth off this mark at Kelso latest but cheekpieces are applied here and Conner McCann takes off 7lb again. Both Inedit De Mee and Urban Soldier lack a recent run.
Inedit De Mee (FR) (11-0) 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Kamchatka (11-0) at Auteuil 2m 2f sft in Apr.
Jaytee 9-1 (12-0) Always in rear, not fluent 15th, pulled up 4 out, at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Jem In Em (IRE) 15-8fav (11-8) Held up in last, struggling after 5th, recovered jumping 8th, pushed along approaching 3 out, never involved, 4th of 7, 6l behind Niceandeasy (11-3) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Ben Lilly (IRE) 10-3 (12-0) Chased leaders, towards rear after 4th, went 3rd 4 out, good jump into 2nd 3 out, soon pushed along and weakened after next, 3rd of 6, 25 1/2l behind Dear Ralphy (10-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Lepashe (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Towards rear, pushed along 13th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Gaboriot (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Stratton Oakmont (IRE) 5-4jfav (11-2) Raced in last, mistake 4th, headway on inside 9th, challenged 4 out, led after 3 out, not fluent and went right 2 out, went right last, stayed on, won at Southwell 3m hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Mountain Leopard (11-6) by 3 1/4l, 0 ran.
Urban Soldier (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Off the pace in last pair, mistake 5th, never involved, 10th of 12, dist behind Holetown Hero (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb.
