held up in touch, took closer order 9th, not fluent next, left in lead 12th, headed 5 out, chased winner from 4 out, one pace from 2 out
held up, pushed along 5 out, weakened when in remote 3rd approaching 2 out
held up, blundered 4th, hampered 12th, headway next, with winner 5 out, weakening when blundered 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 12th, went remote 4th approaching last
led, blundered and unseated rider 12th
held up mid-division, mistake 2nd, lost place approaching 5th, pushed along and reminders after 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
tracked leaders, hit 8th, weakened from 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-divison, headway 12th, led 5 out, not fluent 3 out, clear from next
held up in rear, mistake 7th, blundered 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
An interesting handicap chase where we will put up COE to defy top weight and win for a third time at this track, while Quws Law, Gidam Gidam and Fresh Air And Fun all have claims. The selection is a lightly-raced seven-year-old, having raced only 17 times, and he loves this place, where he has won over both 2m 4f and 3m 2f, and also the bottomless ground. He usually jumps very well, and is well worth this mark after a superb run in defeat here in the Blue Square Gold Cup back in February, so we will give him the nod. Gidam Gidam stays forever and also appreciates cut, and he remains on the same mark as when going close in a valuable contest at Doncaster in February, so he looks like being thereabouts. Quws Law is another mudlark, and he has done most of his winning at Ayr, which is not dissimilar to this track. He is not too badly handicapped at present but does need to show a bit more than he did on his return to get us to part with any money in support of him. Fresh Air And Fun also acts in these conditions but has a bit to prove after being thrashed from this mark last time, while The Shy Man is not dismissed lightly but he did have a crashing fall last time and needs to show he is over that, while the softer ground will not help. The latter applies to Cardinal Spirit, and According To John looks to be in the grip of the assessor. Coe is taken to score.
Coe (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, every chance 22nd, ridden and weakened from 4 out, 9th of 17, 28l behind Hello Bud (10-9) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
According To John (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Ambobo (10-13) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 sft in May, 17 ran.
Appleaday (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Chased leader to before 3 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 7, 43l behind Possol (11-2) at Perth 3m chs (2) gd in Apr.
Gidam Gidam (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Prominent, hit 3rd, ridden and dropped rear quickly 11th, tailed off 13th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Boychuk (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
Daldini 6-1 (9-12) With winner until 4th, not fluent and lost 2nd 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Presque Perdre (10-4) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Quws Law (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 4 out, weakened flat, 4th of 5, 16l behind More Likely (11-4) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Fresh Air And Fun (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Led, jumped slowly and headed 2nd, tracked leader, led again 5th, headed 4 out, blundered and rider lost iron next, soon outpaced, 13 lengths down when blundered and lost 2nd last, not recovered, 4th of 7, 25l behind Auroras Encore (11-8) at Ayr 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Apr.
Never So Blue (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden 13th, weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 12, well behind Aleron (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in May.
Cardinal Spirit Evensfav (11-6) Held up in touch, headway 8th, effort and every chance 3 out, ridden next, one pace, no impression approaching last, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Carrick Dhu (10-13) at Perth 3m hdl (4) gf in May '08.
The Shy Man (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Tracked winner, fell 4 out, in a race won by More Likely (11-4) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct, 5 ran.
