pulled hard in rear, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, soon hung left and no impression
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, never able to challenge
tracked leader, ridden and weakened over 3f out
mid-division, smooth headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, led inside final furlong, ran on well
held up in rear, outpaced over 5f out, headway over 2f out, never on terms
keen hold in mid-division, weakened 3f out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 10f out, hard ridden to challenge over 2f out, kept on same pace approching final furlong
led, raced wide, hard ridden when challenged well over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
held up in rear, headway 10f out, soon chasing leaders, pushed along over 6f out, weakened over 3f out
This looks really trappy with all those to have seen action returning from an absence of over 200 days and the remainder making their first appearances in public. The combination of his absence and the concession of weight all round may prove a bridge too far for King Of Strings and preference is for DESOTO COUNTY who landed his Irish point-to-point quite comfortably back in March. However, preference is only marginal as Battle Born and Wuff have similar records on their CV, whilst Trevor Hemmings unleashes a couple of interesting newcomers in the shape of Nimbus Gale and Presentings Return. It's a riddle of a race at this stage and the market should prove informative come race time.
King Of Strings (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden to press leader and slightly hampered inside final furlong, kept on gamely to lead towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Feb beating Salto Chisco (11-4) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Battle Born 8-1 (11-7) Mid div, prog 1/2way, ld bef 3out, chall aftr 2out, hdd bef last, no ch with wnr flat, 2nd of 13, 5l behind No More Heroes (11-7) at Dromahane 3m ire ptp in Apr.
Brave Encounter (IRE) Indian Danehill gelding out of Dartmeet.
Desoto County 2-1 (11-7) Alw pr, disp 3out, sn went on, in command from last, won at Monksgrange 3m ire ptp sft in Mar beating Mister Kalanisi (11-7) by 1l, 8 ran.
Mr Lennygreengrass (IRE) Millenary gelding out of Grassed.
Nimbus Gale (IRE) Cloudings gelding out of Barton Gale.
Presentings Return (IRE) Presenting gelding out of Gales Return.
Wolf Sword (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Dame O'neill.
Wuff (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Chsd ldrs, 4th gng well 5out, ld 2out, not fluent & hdd last, fought back to ld flat, sow cl home, won at Dromahane 3m ire ptp sft in Dec beating Goline (11-7) by 2l, 13 ran.
Ceilidh (IRE) Tamure mare out of Eyesabeatin.