mid-division, headway after 4 out, led approaching 2 out, clear last, ran on strongly
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, led 5th, headed 3 out, soon faded
chased leaders, lost place 4th, soon beaten
tracked leaders, lost place 5th, soon beaten
led, driven and headed 5th, soon under pressure, led again 3 out, headed next, soon one pace
mid-division, ridden 5th, soon weakened
chased leaders, weakened 5th, soon beaten
held up in touch, under pressure 4 out, weakened next
slowly away, always behind
held up in rear, headway before 2 out, never on terms
chased leaders, every chance 2 out, soon hard ridden to challenge, not pace of winner
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, effort 2 out, soon one pace
slowly away, behind, headway before 2 out, never on terms
chased leaders, effort 4 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway 4 out, soon pushed along, weakened after next, eased
raced in rear, headway 2 out, never dangerous
held up in rear, headway under pressure 2 out, soon no impression
held up in touch, headway 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened before last
mid-division, weakened 4 out
held up in rear, headway 3 out, never dangerous
mid-division, slow 3rd, under pressure 4th, soon beaten
Eradicate won this last year and has been holding his own again in decent handicap company recently. He's 9lb higher this season, however, and his trainer also has Higgy's Ragazzo and REMEMBER NOW in the starting line-up. The latter, a half-brother to former champion hurdler Binocular, gets the vote as he is improving at a rate of knots and was never in any danger of defeat at Ayr last time having edged out subsequent Stratford and Bangor winner Tatispout on his previous start. Hunterview may be the pick of those further up the handicap as he was an impressive winner at Musselburgh in February and ran well in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham subsequently before pulling too hard at Ayr last time. Pokfulham has improved lately and won by 15 lengths at Perth last week, though may not be suited by this drop in trip. Barizan, Orsippus and Pires also have the ability to figure, though none of them have been in the best of form lately while Drill Sergeant can be a law unto himself, though reverse recent C&D running with Knight In Purple.
Eradicate (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) In touch in mid-division, hit 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, switched right after 3 out, stayed on same pace, 7th of 21, 20l behind Far Away So Close (9-10) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Barizan (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, led, hit 2nd, ridden and headed after 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 23, 19l behind Sir Des Champs (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Orsippus (USA) 10-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, blundered and hampered last, never dangerous, 9th of 22, 20l behind Russian War (10-1) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Safari Journey (USA) 10-3 (11-7) Held up in rear, hit 2nd, badly hampered next, headway 5th, pushed along after 9th, hit 2 out, chased winner last, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Pepe Simo (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Hunterview 5-1 (9-13) Pressed leader, bumped slightly 1st, lost 2nd 4th, ridden after 5th, outpaced approaching 3 out, well held after, 6th of 9, 16l behind Sanctuaire (10-8) at Ayr 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Drill Sergeant 5-2fav (11-3) Tracked leaders and keen, led before 3 out, ridden and headed before next, blundered last, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Knight In Purple (10-9) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Apr.
Tarkari (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Mistakes, always behind, 20th of 26, 21l behind Final Approach (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Higgy's Ragazzo (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Took keen hold, mostly chased leader, led 2 out, joined before last, mistake went left and headed last, weakened flat, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Third Intention (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Pokfulham (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th or next, soon given reminders, switched left and headway approaching 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, ridden clear flat, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr beating Coeur De Fou (11-6) by 15l, 11 ran.
Andhaar 50-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear and keen, headway before 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 13, 29l behind Topolski (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Knight In Purple 5-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, challenged on bit 3 out, led before next, shaken up before last, stayed on strongly, won at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Apr beating Drill Sergeant (11-3) by 5l, 8 ran.
Rio Gael (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders and keen, led before 2nd, headed 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 13th of 22, 43l behind Russian War (10-1) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Chaninbar (FR) 33-1 (11-2) Chased leader until after 2nd, stayed in touch, reminders after 6th, driven in 4th approaching last, stayed on to 2nd flat, not pace to challenge winner, 2nd of 6, 2l behind French Opera (11-2) at Sandown 2m chs G2 (1) gf in Apr.
Tatispout (FR) 3-1 (10-11) Held up in last, took keen hold, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd on bit 2 out, led before last, very easily, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr beating Crystal Rock (11-3) by 5l, 8 ran.
Remember Now (IRE) 11-2fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, challenged on bit before 2 out, led before last, stayed on strongly, won at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr beating Sure Josie Sure (11-7) by 4l, 17 ran.
Rebel Dancer (FR) 14-1 (9-12) Held up in rear, headway when not much room bend after 4 out, headway next, mid-division when fell 2 out, in a race won by Recession Proof (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Pires 13-2 (9-12) Mid-division, headway into 6th entering straight, 5th 2 out, ridden in 6th when mistake last, no extra run-in, 6th of 13, 11l behind Jack Cool (11-1) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl gd in Apr.
Ballybriggan (IRE) 4-9fav (11-8) Chased clear leader, closed 5th, left in lead 2 out, ran on, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Batonnier (11-1) by 8l, 6 ran.
Caravel (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 16th of 21, 42l behind Far Away So Close (9-10) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Olympian (FR) 9-4fav (11-4) Held up behind, good headway before 2 out, challenged and bumped last, led flat, ran on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Apr beating Spirit Is Needed (11-8) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Maoi Chinn Tire (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) In rear, ridden and headway before 2 out, went remote 3rd last, never dangerous, 3rd of 8, 22l behind Knight In Purple (10-9) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Apr.
Jubail (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) In touch, headway approaching 3 out, 4th and under pressure approaching 2 out, chased winner 2 out, soon upsides and challenging, went right last, driven and every chance soon after, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Ultravox (10-5) at Ascot 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Mason Hindmarsh 14-1 (11-8) With leader and keen, led 4th, headed 3 out, ridden before last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Tonic Mellysse (11-8) at Ayr 2m 4yo hdl (3) gd in Apr.
