held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway from 11th, went 2nd after 19th until 2 out, lost 3rd and fading before last
chased leaders on outside, lost place before 9th, headway after 17th, one pace and beaten 2 out, plugged on
chased leaders, led before 3rd, headed after 5th, led 14th, headed 18th, no extra 2 out
led, bumped 1st, headed next, lost place 3rd, slow 11th, mistake 14th, headway after 19th, went 2nd and bumped 2 out, no impression on winner
prominent, hampered 1st, not fluent 7th, led 10th until mistake 12th, weakened 19th, soon pulled up
rear of mid-division, last when not fluent 7th, well beaten from 18th, tailed off
mid-division, blundered badly and lost place 6th, blundered badly 8th, not fluent 10th, well behind from 17th, pulled up after mistake 19th
prominent, led 18th, clear from 2 out, stayed on well
prominent, hampered 1st, led next, headed after 3rd, led after 5th, headed 10th, led 12th, mistake and headed 14th, weakened 18th, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden after 19th, one pace and beaten 2 out, went 3rd before last
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, lost place before 3rd, struggling and behind 16th, pulled up after 19th
towards rear, struggling 14th, tailed off
mid-division on outside, mistake 6th, struggling 12th, behind 15th, pulled up after 19th
NonRunner
A very competitive line-up for one of the track’s biggest races of the year. Robin Of Sherwood and High Counsel finished 1-2 over the trip at Warwick with the latter scoring scoring over 3m subsequently at the Midlands track. Sackett won over 3m here last month before a third at Chepstow but Wincanton winner Magic River has another half-mile to cover and stamina could also be an issue for Louis' Vac Pouch. Sumkindofking was successful over 3m2f at Taunton in March, however, and Findusatgorcombe won over 3m6f at Exeter over the winter. Lord Getaway and Boughtbeforelunch filled the places at Uttoxeter last month and Flying Verse isn’t short of stamina but we’ll take a chance on STRICTLYADANCER. Weighted to reverse course and distance form last season with Friends Don't Ask, he hails from a yard that does well in these staying handicaps and a fair run at Haydock last month will have blown away any cobwebs. Game Line has won twice over 3m2f this year but this is a big step up in class.
Louis' Vac Pouch (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway 8th, 4th and beaten 4 out, no impression from next, 4th of 7, 9 3/4l behind Another Stowaway (11-0) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Sumkindofking (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, pushed along before 11th, blundered next, weakened approaching 15th, 9th of 11, 31 1/4l behind Innisfree Lad (11-2) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Boughtbeforelunch (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Midfield, headway to lead 3rd, joined 3 out, headed before 2 out, no extra after last, 3rd of 9, 8 3/4l behind Hard To Forget (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Flying Verse 14-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, beaten 2 out, 4th and no extra last, 4th of 9, 7 1/2l behind Aimee De Sivola (12-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Mercian Knight (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place and ridden 8th, mistake and behind next, pulled up after 10th, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Strictlyadancer (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, steady headway on inside chasing leaders when hit 15th, plugged on, 4th of 11, 9l behind Innisfree Lad (11-2) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Sackett 11-8fav (11-0) Led and jumped right at times, headed soon after 6th, led again bend before next, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 6 3/4l behind Polydora (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Game Line (IRE) 11-10fav (12-1) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th or 16th, went 2nd after 4 out, not fluent 2 out, challenged last, led towards finish, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Apr beating Hedgeinator (11-5) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Findusatgorcombe 12-1 (10-0) Chased leader, led 4th until 15th, chased leader until after 17th, chased leaders and pushed along, 4th and struggling when mistake 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 14, 19 1/2l behind Samuel Jackson (11-0) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Friends Don't Ask 11-4fav (11-12) Prominent, joined leader travelling well 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, led 3 out, ridden and edged left 2 out, went clear approaching last, reduced lead final 100yds, kept on, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (5) gf in Mar beating Monty Massini (10-0) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Robin Of Sherwood (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) In touch, chased front trio 16th, untidy 18th, shaken up before 3 out, pressed leader at last, soon led, kept on well run-in, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (5) gd in Apr beating High Counsel (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Magic River (IRE) 5-1 (10-2) In rear but in touch, close up travelling strongly 15th, pressed leader 17th, led before 4 out, eased clear before 2 out, in command before last, eased close home, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Apr beating Aubusson (11-12) by 15l, 5 ran.
High Counsel (IRE) 7-2 (10-0) Mid-division, closed 2nd, challenging when bumped before last, stayed on well, drawing clear towards finish, won at Warwick 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr beating Broadclyst (11-8) by 5 1/2l, 10 ran.
Lord Getaway (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 6 out, chased leaders 4 out, went third 2 out, stayed on into second on run in, 2nd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Hard To Forget (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.