led, clear after 1st until slow 5th, headed 4 out, weakened after next
chased clear leader, closed 5th, lost 2nd before next, not fluent 7th, jumped left 4 out, went 2nd again after 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, drawing clear last, easily
held up off the pace in 4th, went 3rd before 2 out, closed on 2nd flat, no chance with winner
held up off the pace in 5th, dived at 6th, mistake 3 out, went remote 4th after last
chased leaders, closed on leader 5th, went 2nd before next, led 4 out, headed after 2 out, mistake last, no extra flat
behind, ridden 6th, pulled up before 8th
None of these make much appeal but PEARLS LEGEND would have every chance if finding something approaching his best. A mark of 122 still seems high enough but his latest effort after a break when a decent Haydock fourth suggests there's still enough petrol in the tank for him to land a race such as this. Ink Master has yet to spark for his new yard and Walden Prince rates the main threat to the selection. He continues to perform at a consistent level, receives plenty of weight all round and ran very much to a good level on his latest start. Closest Friend returns after an absence but Un Beau Roman and All Is Good are not discounted on the best of their form. This is all very much a case of who turns up on the day and is a hard puzzle to unravel.
Ink Master (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Led 1st, not fluent 4 out, headed before next, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 6, 15 3/4l behind Marracudja (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Pearls Legend 8-1 (11-6) Prominent, led before 9th, headed 11th, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Robbing The Prey (11-12) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in May.
Un Beau Roman (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in 3rd, dropped to 4th 4 out, struggling and no chance after, last of 4, 21 1/4l behind Tara Bridge (11-4) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Closest Friend 6-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, not always fluent, pushed along 11th, disputing 3 lengths 2nd when crumpled on landing and virtually fell 3 out, no chance after and pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gf in Oct.
All Is Good (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders on outside, 2nd from 6th, led 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat, 4th of 10, 8 1/2l behind Hargam (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Walden Prince (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, headway from 8th, challenged after 3 out, upsides when pecked badly 2 out and lost momentum on winner, switched left flat, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Nightfly (11-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
