always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, led after 2 out, soon clear, driven out
in touch, hampered 3rd, weakened next
held up and keen, headway after 4th, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
prominent, led 4th, ridden and headed after 2 out, soon beaten
mid-division, ridden and headway 5th, weakened next
in touch, hampered 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division until weakened after 3rd
mid-division, headway 4th, hampered 3 out, soon weakened
always towards rear
mid-division, headway 3rd, weakened after next
prominent, jumped left and lost place 3rd, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led until not fluent 4th, mistake 5th, with leader when blundered 3 out, weakened quickly
chased leaders, wandered about and lost place 2nd, soon behind
behind, headway 5th, weakened after 3 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway after 2nd, mistake 5th, weakened next
Nonrunner
Desert Spa is out to get losses back and can do so at the expense of Before The Mast, Gabor and Shalati Princess, with Jack Durrance another to consider. A big field line up here, but on recent evidence it is Desert Spa that is the one to catch. Although at the age of 11 he is the oldest one here, he shaped well enough when third at Ludlow, and this past course-and-distance winner will always be a threat in this grade. Before The Mast has been in action over fences and hurdles, and would be a threat if the ground was softer, while Gabor has been placed a few times and is not out of it despite topweight with his pilot taking off a handy 7lb. Shalati Princess was very unlucky at Taunton in March but has not looked like making amends in two subsequent outings, and Jack Durrance proved he can win a race of this nature at Newton Abbot last August but has risen up the weights since and is hard to fancy strongly. We shall take Desert Spa to put his younger rivals in the shade.
Gabor 7-1 (11-5) Raced wide, mid-division, jumped slowly 5th, headway 7th, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Dancinginthestreet (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f cnd sll hdl (G) gs in Nov.
Desert Spa (USA) 9-2jt-fav (10-9) In touch, ridden and every chance 3 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 17, 3 1/2l behind Canadian Storm (10-13) at Ludlow 2m clm hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Damarisco (FR) 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 16, 12l behind Elegant Clutter (10-12) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Apr.
Jack Durrance (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders from 3 out, one pace under pressure from next, 4th of 14, 7l behind Brochrua (10-4) at N Abbot 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Before The Mast (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Took keen hold, held up in rear, some headway when mistake 6th, weakened and behind from 8th, 7th of 9, well behind Denarius Secundus (10-3) at Plumpton 2m 1f sll hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Apr.
Griffin's Legacy 16-1 (10-7) With leader, led after 3rd, headed 6th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 14, 10l behind Brochrua (10-4) at N Abbot 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Oh Mister Pinceau (FR) 4-1fav (11-4) Held up and keen, headway approaching 2 out, no impression, 8th of 15, 40l behind Suprendre Espere (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Apr.
Shalati Princess 9-2fav (10-0) In touch, ridden 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 17, 14l behind Simonovski (11-0) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (4) gf in Apr.