chased leader to 3 out, driven in 3rd before 2 out, 3 lengths down last, stayed on strongly flat, led near line
hampered and unseated rider 1st
tracked leaders, disputing 2nd after 10th until weakened soon after 12th, tailed off
held up in mid-division, smooth headway to challenge 3 out, led soon after 2 out, driven 2 lengths clear last, no extra and headed near line
always behind, hit 8th, under pressure 10th, struggling next, soon lost touch, tailed off
blundered and unseated rider 1st
held up in rear, hampered 8th, 6th and struggling 3 out
led, strongly pressed from 3 out, headed soon after 2 out, 2 lengths down last, rallied under pressure flat
raced wide, held up in mid-division, hit 12th, driven in 5th after 4 out, soon beaten
While Dead Or Alive has won his last two starts and has every chance of making it three on the bounce today, Tim Vaughan's gelding is 9lbs worse in with NOSTRINGSATTACHED for the quarter-of-a-length that separated the pair at Plumpton last month and Jonjo O'Neill's gelding is taken to reverse that form and he gets the vote ahead of I Hear Thunder. Bob Buckler's gelding has been running creditably of late without winning and deserves to get his head in front but he has not won since November 2006 and may have to settle for minor honours again. Mark Bradstock's Vial De Kerdec has won each of his last two starts but a 14lb rise for the latest of those makes this more difficult. Beehawk has slipped to a fair mark and was still there with every chance before unseating his rider at the last here last time and he has to be considered but more solid claims are held by Nostringsattached, who is taken to go one better than at Plumpton last time.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) With leader, led approaching 6 until 10th, led 16th until after 18th, weakened approaching last, 4th of 7, 19l behind Prestbury Knight (11-5) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Dead Or Alive (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Chased leaders, mistake 3 out, second approaching last, led after last, driven clear, eased near finish, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May beating Kikos (11-9) by 10l, 11 ran.
Orfeo Conti (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Mid-division, in rear when reminders after 6th, well beaten 3 out, 10th of 12, 40l behind Lord Jay Jay (11-11) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Nostringsattached (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, challenged 2 out, narrow lead between last 2, blundered and headed last, driven and hung left flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, nk behind Dead Or Alive (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Monzon (FR) 40-1 (10-7) Refused to race, in a race won by Master At Arms (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f 4yo Am hcp hdl (4) gd in May, 14 ran.
Dynamic Rhythm (USA) 33-1 (10-11) Always in rear, pushed along 5th, losing touch 7th, 11th of 13, 28l behind Bonikos (11-12) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Lease Back (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Always in last pair, driven along and struggling 9th, hit 4 out, beaten when blundered next, 6th of 7, 36l behind Dead Or Alive (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Vial De Kerdec (FR) 10-11fav (11-0) Jumped well, made all, in command from 2 out, eased near finish, won at Plumpton 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr beating Misbehaviour (11-9) by 11l, 4 ran.
Beehawk 9-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, smooth headway after 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out challenging for lead and going well when jumped badly right, blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Shake The Barley (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May, 8 ran.
Corrib Drift (USA) 14-1 (10-10) Close up until driven along 9th, struggling after, well behind 3 out, 5th of 7, 33l behind Dead Or Alive (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in May.
