held up behind, struggling 4 out, lost touch when not fluent 3 out and again next, never a threat
made most, joined and clear of rest after 7th, headed narrowly next, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, close 3rd and effort next, ridden and one pace between last 2, no impression with front pair before last
chased leaders, lost place 7th, soon behind and struggling, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, headway before 3 out, led next, driven clear when hit last, ridden out flat, stayed on
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, one pace next, soon ridden, never on terms, well held in 4th from last
disputed lead to 1st, tracked leader, disputed lead again and clear of rest after 7th, led narrowly next, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on but no impression with winner before last
held up behind, outpaced 3 out, never near leaders, weakened next
held up behind, headway under pressure before 3 out, ridden to chase leaders before next, never on terms, weakened after last
Only the top four in this can race off their correct mark, though Canyon City is only a pound out of the handicap. Wait For Me is unlikely to be far away again after finishing second at Sandown two weeks ago but he’s struggling to get his head back in front. Double Treasure is making his handicap debut over the smaller obstacles after 10 starts so the vote goes to SEROSEVSKY, back with a bang on his return to action at Wincanton and likely to improve further for another step up in trip. Whisper has been a class act in his day but has a very long absence and top weight to overcome. Ocean Cove is a strong stayer and may find things happening too quickly here.
Whisper (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, mistake 12th, soon pushed along, lost touch 5 out, 5th of 8, 21 3/4l behind Might Bite (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Double Treasure 1-3fav (11-13) Jumped well, made all and always going well, clear most of way, hard held, unchallenged, won at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) gd in Apr beating El Hageb Rose (10-13) by 34l, 3 ran.
Wait For Me (FR) 11-4fav (11-5) Held up behind, headway towards stands side before 2 out, soon challenged, led narrowly last, ridden flat, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Colonial Dreams (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Serosevsky (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, lost place 7th, remote 8th on last bend, 6th 2 out, stayed on to take 5 lengths 2nd last, led towards finish, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Champagne Champ (11-11) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
Canyon City 50-1 (10-9) Mid-division, effort on inside before 3 out, ridden when not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace, 6th of 21, 18 3/4l behind Aux Ptits Soins (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Limited Reserve (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Slowly into stride, in rear, outpaced from 8f out, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Ranch Hand (8-6) at Southwell 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Ocean Cove (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Held up in mid-division on outside, headway 8th, led after 3 out, hard pressed from 2 out, edged left flat, holding 2nd close home, won at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Supremely Lucky (11-12) by nk, 11 ran.
William Of Orange 17-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden after 4 out, soon lost place, weakened next, tailed off, 8th of 10, 37 1/2l behind Secrete Stream (11-7) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
No Hassle Hoff (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway after 2 out, switched left before last, left 2nd soon after last, no impression on winner, kept on, 2nd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Le Patriote (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
