led until 7th, led after 9th, headed 3 out, held by winner flat, kept on
held up in rear, headway on outside 4 out, led next, driven clear towards finish
held up, not fluent 10th, closed next, not much room 3 out, driven after 2 out, 3rd last, no extra towards finish
held up, effort on inside 3 out, ridden and beaten next, mistake last
tracked leader, led 7th, headed after next, stayed on same pace approaching last
tracked leaders, not fluent 11th, ridden after 14th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
Hammersly Lake won a virtual match easily at Huntingdon last month but is not exactly consistent and Nicky Henderson also runs the younger Kilcrea Vale. Champagne At Tara is also proving hard to catch right and this may not be his best trip over fences. POKER SCHOOL is far more straightforward and his latest run behind Shantou Village at Sandown was another fair effort. Neither going nor trip here is a problem and it’s hard to see the seven-year-old not being involved in the finish. Nansaroy and Ash Park will have to take a step forward to figure, however.
Kilcrea Vale (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, blundered and dropped to mid-division 6th, behind from 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, 33 1/2l behind Shantou Village (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Hammersly Lake (FR) 4-6fav (11-5) Tracked leader, challenged 2 out, soon led, shaken up run-in, readily, won at Huntingdon 2m (4) gd in Apr beating Marracudja (11-12) by 16l, 3 ran.
Champagne At Tara 5-1 (10-11) Held up last, smooth headway on outside tracking leaders approaching 2 out, left 3rd soon after 2 out, driven and stayed on same pace run-in, 3rd of 5, 9l behind San Benedeto (11-12) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Poker School (IRE) 13-2 (10-9) Mistake 2nd, held up in last pair, headway to track leaders 3 out, ridden after next, one pace last, no impression flat, 6th of 10, 5 1/2l behind Shantou Village (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Ash Park (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 3rd from 6th, outpaced from 2 out, no impression, 4th of 7, 11 1/4l behind Chitu (11-5) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Nansaroy 7-2fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, struggling 5th, rallied 3 out, kept on under pressure before last, never nearer, moderate 4th, 4th of 9, dist behind Wuff (11-4) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
