held up in touch, took keen hold, hampered 1st, headway to lead 3 out, ridden and headed flat, no extra
held up in touch, outpaced 7th, headway next, soon tracking leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, soon every chance, jumped left last, hard ridden to lead flat, all out
led, headed 3rd, remained prominent, effort and jumped left last, no extra
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon under pressure, kept on from last
tracked leaders, jumped left throughout, not fluent 2nd, struggling 8th, no impression after
Manners, Moonfleet and First Fought are all considered in this trappy affair with the narrow preference for the last mentioned. The selection was disappointing last time at Hereford when he ran as though something was amiss. We are therefore prepared to forgive him that run and if he shows his best form today then he should go very close. Manners has not won for over a year and he is not the most reliable but he would be in with a chance if he could get round. Moonfleet jumped left throughout last time when chasing home Post It and consequently we think he will fare better on a left-handed track. It will be a surprise if either of the other two are good enough and we will stick with First Fought as our idea of the winner.
Kingkohler (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Keen, soon led, ridden 4 out, headed soon after 3 out, weakened after last, 3rd of 4, 23l behind Caribou (10-12) at Leicester 2m beg chs (4) sft in Feb.
Manners (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Pulled hard in mid-division, weakened under pressure after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Verasi (10-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan, 17 ran.
Physical Force 11-1 (11-2) Raced keenly in touch, led 9th, headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 12l behind Bestofthebrownies (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Apr.
First Fought (IRE) 5-4fav (10-12) Tracked leader, close up 4 out, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out, eased when beaten, 4th of 5, well behind Post It (10-8) at Hereford 2m beg chs (4) gf in Apr.
Moonfleet (IRE) 3-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders and jumped left throughout, outpaced 7th, stayed on from 3 out, hit 2 out, rallied flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Post It (10-8) at Hereford 2m beg chs (4) gf in Apr.