led, headed last, soon ridden, hung left and no extra flat
held up in rear, headway halfway, led last, ridden out
tracked leader, driven and outpaced when hung left approaching last, soon ridden and no extra
held up, outpaced after 2 out, soon tailed off
held up, struggling after 2 out, soon tailed off
tracked leaders, effort after 2 out, 2nd and every chance when mistake last, ridden and kept on flat
Acropolis looks the best option in a decent looking opener, Pee Jay's Dream and Open de Lisle could be the main rivals. The heavy ground will be the key here and we know that Howard Johnston's five-year-old prefered cut in the ground on the flat. He earned a top rating of 120 in 2005 and if transfering that sort of class to this game he will be hard to beat. He was easy to back on his hurdles debut in January and was well beaten. However the stable wasn't in good form then and we may see a different animal this afternoon. Pee Jay's Dream could be the pick of the Mick Easterby quartet as he was a much better performer on the flat when the ground was riding soft. Open de L'isle was a very impressive winner on heavy last time out and should go well again with similar conditions. However Acropolis was head and shoulders above these on the flat and he gets the verdict.
Lowsha Green 6-1 (11-1) Disputed lead until after 2 out, jumped left and weakened last, 5th of 10, 15l behind Radar (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov.
Open de L'Isle (FR) 33-1 (10-9) Held up and keen, headway to chase leader 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov beating King Daniel (10-12) by 5l, 13 ran.
Acropolis (IRE) 5-2co-fav (11-5) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, one pace approaching last, 4th of 15, 13l behind Alfred The Great (10-12) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Malton 66-1 (10-12) Held up behind, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 14l behind Blythe Knight (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Pee Jay's Dream 10-3jt-fav (9-6) In touch, ridden over 3f out, raced stand's side, driven, no extra final 2f, 3rd of 7, 31l behind Mighty Moon (8-9) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct (Flat).
Imlaak 33-1 (10-0) Towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 9, 20l behind Fair Spin (11-7) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Reckless Venture (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, 9th of 17, 48l behind Tidal Bay (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Trust Rule 20-1 (10-11) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, never dangerous, 4th of 15, 27l behind Circassian (11-0) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) sft.
