held up in last pair, closer on inside turning in
off the pace towards rear pushed along turning in, weakened soon after
jumped right at times, led, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on same pace and no chance with winner before last, kept on for clear 2nd
mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders before 9th, hit 11th, pushed along turning in, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, jumped slowly 5th and 12th, headway out wide turning in, outpaced 4 out, plugged on in remote 4th before the last
tracked leaders, mistake 5th, close 3rd at 13th, went 2nd home turn, led 2 out, clear before last, eased towards finish
raced wide tracking leader, mistake 10th, lost 2nd home turn, 3rd and well held when went right 3 out
off the pace in last pair, not fluent 6th, never involved
chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 13th, pushed along and struggling after next, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
NonRunner
Evan Williams won this last year and Puddlesinthepark, who has won over hurdles around here and has only had two starts over fences, has a fitness advantage over most of these. The latter remark also applies to ROCK OF STAR, who produced a Chepstow double in the spring and only weakened close home when tackling 3m2f at Newton Abbot last month. Lazy Sunday completed a hat-trick over shorter distances in the spring and was only beaten a couple of lengths from today's mark on her final start. Gold Emery was beaten a long way behind Tip Top Mountain at Uttoxeter on his chasing debut but only three lengths by that winner over this trip on a return visit so looks to be progressing nicely.
Rock Of Star (FR) 10-3 (11-6) Held up in last, hit 5th, went third going okay 3 out, ridden next, kept on from 2 out, not pace of first two, 3rd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Take Your Time (11-8) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
King Of Brazil 4-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, outpaced and ridden before 3 out, soon beaten, 8th of 9, 34 3/4l behind Bumpy Johnson (12-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Lazy Sunday 18-5 (11-5) Towards rear, slow 1st, not fluent 4th, effort 14th, went 2nd normal 2 out, not able to trouble winner, stayed on, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Triple Trade (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Gold Emery (FR) 7-2jfav (11-8) Mid-division on inside, closed 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, mistake last, held flat, 2nd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Tip Top Mountain (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Stellar Stream (IRE) 10-3 (12-1) In touch behind leaders, pushed along after 4 out, tailed off before 2 out, last of 7, 25 1/4l behind Mr Palmtree (10-2) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Haut Folin (FR) 18-1 (11-9) In rear, mistake 11th and ridden, soon lost touch, pulled up before 4 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Flintara 10-3fav (12-0) Niggled away from start, chased leaders, reminder after 3rd, not fluent next, lost place 7th, weakened after 3 out, mistake last, 9th of 10, dist behind Royal Lake (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Puddlesinthepark (IRE) 10-3 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway 11th, outpaced 4 out, went 3rd last, kept on, no impression, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Blade Runner (11-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Est Illic (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) Held up in 4th, went 3rd before 6th, ridden and rallied on inside before 4 out, went 2nd after 4 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Abaya Du Mathan (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Methusalar (IRE) 10-3fav (10-13) Mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, mistake 4 out and dropped away tamely, 6th of 9, dist behind Meechlands Magic (10-2) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
