chased leaders until ridden and lost place 7th, behind after
chased leaders, ridden and hit 2 out, went 2nd soon after last, kept on, no chance with easy winner
took keen hold, made most from 1st, headed well before 2 out, weakened rapidly
took keen hold, tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, badly hampered on bend soon after, went 2nd before 2 out, no chance with easy winner when lost 2nd soon after last
mistake and reminder 3rd, always in rear
mid-division, headway 6th, chasing leaders when blundered 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
held up in rear, ridden 3 out, never a factor
in mid-division, not much room and dropped to rear 7th, headway on outside after next, led well before 2 out, soon clear and unchallenged after, eased near finish
held up in rear, ridden 7th, never in contention
led until mistake 1st, tracked leader until well before 2 out, soon weakened
The opening-race selection is Leo McGarry, with Proud To Present, Reve En Bleu and Winds And Dragons looking best of the others. Much as he comes here on the back of just a Stratford maiden hurdle win, the level of form reached in that contest reads pretty well in the context of this race and Leo McGarry can go well. A 35,000 euros son of Presenting, the Brendan Powell-trained Proud To Present looks interesting on his debut (the trainer also runs Well Actually) and, much as he showed little on his debut last time, it would be no surprise to see the Paul Nicholls-trained Reve En Bleu run a lot better today. Finally, having shown promise here last time, Winds And Dragons is not ruled out of a good run as he steps up in trip now but, for the selection we will side with Leo McGarry.
Alphagran (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, reminder after 4th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 10, well behind The Real Deal (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Court Alliance 66-1 (11-0) Always behind, tailed off from 5th, 19th of 21, well behind Climate Change (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Proud To Present (IRE) (12-0) Prominent, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Loughrea 3m ire ptp gd in Apr beating Loughwell Star (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Reve En Bleu (FR) 11-10fav (11-0) Chased leaders, reminders 3rd, no impression from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 25l behind Sir Jimmy Shand (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Walter Gee Dancing Spree gelding, half-brother to winners up to 1m4f and over hurdles.
Well Actually (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) In touch, hit 6th, weakened after next, tailed off when hit 2 out, 6th of 9, 22l behind Oscar Park (11-5) at Windsor 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gd in Nov '05.
Winds And Dragons (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 10, 20l behind The Real Deal (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Leo McGarry (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (10-4) Mid-division, steady progress from 6th, led after 3 out, clear before 2 out, ran on well, won at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gs beating The Risky Viking (11-2) by 12l, 15 ran.
Migigi 100-1 (10-5) Always behind, tailed off from 6th, 7th of 10, well behind Nice Horse (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 3f nh mdn hdl (4) gf in May.
Participation 150-1 (10-12) Lost touch 4th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Raslan (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Victree (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Held up, reminders after 4th, headway when mistake 6th, weakened after 9th, hampered 3 out, 4th of 14, 33l behind Caspers Case (11-2) at Worcester 3m mdn hdl (E) gd in Jun '05.
