mid-division, headway 7th, ridden and weakened quickly approaching 3 out, pulled up after 2 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 7th
chased leaders until 6th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway approaching 5th, went prominent 6th, ridden and weakened quickly, pulled up approaching 3 out
led until after 4th, chased winner, hit 5th, soon ridden, weakened 7th
held up, headway approaching 5th, went prominent 6th, weakened quickly after 7th, pulled up before 3 out
track leaders, led after 4th, drew clear from 3 out, heavily eased flat
The unexposed Monteforte makes plenty of appeal and he is selected in preference to Graceful Dancer and Ledsdream. With Keepers Mead possibly emerging as the best of the rest. The selection was very impressive when winning at Chepstow in December last year and, having been given a break since then, he arrives here fresher than most . The form of that race was given a boost by the runner up afterwards and Monteforte will be hard to beat with a similar effort today. Ledsdream goes well here and should make a bold bid again. However, he is now 13lb higher than when finishing second in this race last year and he may find at least one too good on these terms. Graceful Dancer has been in fair form of late and will be staying on when others have cried enough. She holds solid each-way claims. However, nothing makes as much appeal as Monteforte, whose lack of experience is counterbalanced by the depth of ability he has already displayed at the track.
Lesdream 25-1 Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden and every chance flat, not quicken close home, 2nd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Sungates at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Feb.
Monteforte 9-4fav Prominent, led 3rd, clear approaching last, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (E) sft in Dec beating Genghis by 11l, 10 ran.
Mylo 10-1 Always towards rear, 8th of 16, 37l behind Go For Bust at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp hdl (D) gd.
Lorgnette 66-1 In touch until 7th, soon ridden, weakened 8th, behind when hampered 4 out, 7th of 14, 13l behind Holland Park at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs.
Keepers Mead (IRE) 20-1 Tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, close up when mistake 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 14, 8l behind Back Nine at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs.
Rollo (IRE) 7-1 With leader, mistake 4th, not fluent 7th, led 9th, ridden and headed when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 16, well behind Graffiti Tongue at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Feb.
Randolph O'Brien (IRE) 14-1 Led 2nd, mistake 4th, headed approaching 3 out, behind when hit 2 out, 12th of 24, 44l behind Hordago at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (E) gd in Nov.
