chased leaders, ridden after 8th, one pace from 3 out
track leaders, led approached 3 out, hit 2 out, ridden out
led, hit 5th and 8th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
jumped left throughout, always behind and pulled up before 3 out
in touch, lost place 7th, headway after 10th, ridden approaching 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, held when not fluent last
held up, headway 7th, went second after 10th, ridden 3 out, gradually faded
chased leader, hit 5th and next, ridden after 9th, weakened approaching 3 out
in touch until dropped rear 7th, lost touch 10th, pulled up before 3 out
Celebrity Call will be a popular choice to open his account in another poor affair, with Blue Sovereign and Monte Major the only others worth a mention. Celebrity Call was perhaps a little unlucky at Fakenham when stumbling on the bend approaching the final flight, as in the end he had to play second fiddle to Kidithou. He was saddled with topweight at the Norfolk track though, and will be a more potent threat back amongst the maidens. Although his form is nothing special, it is still better than that of his rivals, the best of whom may be Blue Sovereign. The latter has shown a modicum of ability in the past but needs to get his jumping together, while of the remainder, only Monte Major has any scope, being the youngster of the party at the age of four. All in all, in a race in which bets should be kept to the bare minimum, it is Celebrity Call that gets the nod.
Blue Sovereign 66-1 (10-9) Led to 6th, mistake 7th, 3rd and 5 lengths down when blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by An Accordion (10-13) at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (4) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Celebrity Call (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Led, ridden and joined 3 out, soon clear of remainder of field, headed approaching last, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Kidithou (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Delaneys Triumph (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Behind from 5th, hit 11th, blundered 15th, 5th of 8, 24l behind Ebony Jack (10-11) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf in Apr.
La Griffe (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Led, headed after 7th and weakened, 10th of 15, well behind Miss Rideamight (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Apr.
Shannon Lodge (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 10th, hampered by loose horse approaching 11th, headed, weakened soon after, 6th of 11, well behind Swings 'n Strings (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f sll hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Apr.
Monte Major (GER) 20-1 (11-0) Held up and mid-division, ridden 6th, soon weakened, 11th of 13, well behind Artadi (10-11) at Taunton 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Devon Blue (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Mid-division, pushed along after 6th, no impression from 8th, 4th of 10, 32l behind Backbord (11-7) at Worcester 3m nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Neatandsweet 50-1 (10-4) In touch until dropped rear 6th, 5th of 9, 45l behind Scotland Yard (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gf.
