held up, headway 3 out, every chance from 2 out, ridden and ran on to lead flat
prominent, left in lead 2nd, headed next, weakened before 3 out
in touch, effort and mistake 3 out, soon weakened
led 3rd, headed before 2 out, every chance when mistake last, weakened flat
pulled hard and soon led, hung left and ran out next
chased leaders, effort 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, led 2 out, headed flat, no extra
held up mid-division, headway 5th, ridden to challenge 3 out, weakened next
held up, jumped slowly 4th, weakened 4 out, pulled up 2 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
The selection is the Philip Hobbs trained Amarula Ridge ridden by top Amateur Mr Tom O' Brien,he showed his merit with a good victory at Doncaster last December.His two most recent runs,especially his third at Ludlow show that he is still in great form. Obvious competition will come from Sea Map trained by Don Cantillon,a good second at Fakenham last December was followed by a long lay off,but his reappearnce performance here recently behind Estate can be improved upon. Secrets Out ran poorly on the flat at Wolverhampton,but could play a role here,if reproducing last year's Bangor form.However he has not been out for a long time. Patrixprial,trained by Mark Tompkins,has shown some decent flat form including at Nottingham in April before running respectably at Newbury. But the choice here is Amarula Ridge to win this event.
Amarula Ridge (IRE) 6-4fav (11-8) Held up in touch, hit 3rd, headway and mistake 4 out, ridden after next, no extra flat, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Lindsay (11-11) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Feb.
Secret's Out 14-1 (11-2) Held up, in rear, ridden and outpaced 3 out, stayed on, no chance with leaders, 4th of 9, 9l behind Tushna (10-7) at Stratford 2m ldy hcp hdl (F) gd in Oct.
Smart Minister 12-1 (9-0) Chased leaders until lost place 3f out, soon behind, 6th of 7, 8l behind High Ridge (9-4) at Pontefract 6f stk (E) gf in Jul '04 (Flat).
Vrisaki (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, weakened approaching 3 out, hit last, 7th of 21, 19l behind Only Words (10-3) at Wetherby 2m amt hcp hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Sea Map 3-1 (10-8) Pulled hard, tracked leader to 3rd, led 5th, headed after 3out, jumped left and weakened, 4th of 15, 25l behind Estate (10-3) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) gd.
Currow Kate 12-1 (11-12) Held up; hdwy to ld 11; hdd 15; wknd 2 out, 4th of 14, 14l behind King Freddy (12-5) at Dingley 3m ptp gd.
Patrixprial 200-1 (11-7) Always behind, 14th of 20, 32l behind Noland (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Lunar Promise (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) Keen, held up, in touch, ridden 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 13, hd behind Prime Contender (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Oct (Flat).
