tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent 3rd, led 3 out, soon clear, easily
tracked leader, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next, tailed off
in rear, went remote 4th 3 out, never dangerous
held up in touch in 4th, lost place approaching 8th, hit next, tailed off
led, headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 8th, chased winner approaching last, no impression
DO IT FOR DALKEY gets the nod with his excellent record fresh a major factor. Lucinda Russell's gelding only has won win to his name but it came almost a year ago on his first start of the season. This mark of 86 looks fair and the drop in trip will suit on his chasing debut. Manoubi is a fellow course and distance winner and he is respected with two solid runs this year to draw on, whilst top-weight Ocarina gets on well with Harry Haynes and the duo are respected for a canny trainer. Cloudmor and Cybora don't leap off the page on their return, and so a bigger danger might be the fairly-handicapped Paddys Unyoke.
Ocarina (FR) 4-1fav (10-7) Pressed leader throughout, driven and slightly outpaced between last 2, ridden flat, stayed on under pressure to lead final 100 yards, won at Hexham 2m 4f cnd hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in May beating Cash Man (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Cloudmor (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Raysrock (11-12) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
Cybora (FR) 6-1 (10-2) Always in rear, well beaten approaching 4 out, virtually pulled up flat, last of 13, well behind Noun De La Thinte (10-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Paddys Unyoke (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Mid-division, lost place and behind 6th, tailed pff when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Bob's Dream (11-9) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Apr, 12 ran.
Do It For Dalkey 3-1fav (10-4) Raced keenly, in touch on inside, effort to chase winner after 3 out, hung right and lost 2nd next, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 23l behind Beamazed (11-6) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Manoubi 4-1fav (10-7) Held up behind, some headway 2 out, outpaced before last, never on terms, 6th of 11, 11l behind Whatdoidowiththat (10-12) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Oct.