mid-division, smooth headway and every chance 3 out, led next, blundered badly and headed last, ridden and one pace flat
held up, headway from 4 out to every chance next, ridden and weakened approaching last
mid-division, smooth headway and every chance 4 out until ridden and weakened 2 out
tracked leader, every chance 4 out, ridden and weakened from next, pulled up before 2 out
held up, smooth headway from 3 out to chase leaders last, shaken up and led flat, readily
held up, headway to chase leaders 2 out, ridden and weakened flat
led until headed 4 out, ridden and soon weakened
tracked leader, led after 4 out until headed 2 out, ridden and left leader last, headed flat, one pace
Not a race to get heavily involved with and we'll take FARNE ISLAND to score, while Solis and Solway Blue are others with claims. The selection represents Micky Hammond, who has had his runners in good nick just lately, including this one. The six-year-old gelding was runner up when last seen over hurdles here last month and he has twice since run very well over 10f on the flat. Conditions and trip are again his optimum and he looks very competitive from this mark of 93, so we'll side with him. German-bred Solis is a maiden after nine starts under rules and went well at Perth last time. Peter Monteith has had winners with worse than this gelding but he does just look a bit one-paced. Solway Blue was a runner-up at Perth on decent ground recently, albeit comfortably beaten, but there is definite scope for improvement from him now and he is far from ruled out. Ice Image was supported in the market before making the frame at Wetherby last time, his best form to date, and connections may fancy their chances of further profit so check out the market for a guide. Kingsholm probably wants slower ground than this so if it rains his chance would be improved, but preference today is for Farne Island.
Solis (GER) 25-1 (9-9) In touch, headway 4 out, led briefly before 2 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Top Mark (11-8) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Solway Blue 66-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, chased winner before next, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Hazeldene (11-0) at Perth 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Ice Image (IRE) 6-1fav (10-11) Held up, soon chasing leaders, kept on approaching last, 3rd of 17, 3l behind Simple Jim (11-12) at Wetherby 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Executive Xpress 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 6, 15l behind Presque Perdre (11-4) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Apr.
Pete 20-1 (11-0) Held up, reminders 3rd, challenged approaching 2 out until driven and weakened approaching last, 6th of 14, 13l behind Gamma Velorum (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Apr.
Kingsholm 40-1 (10-13) Always behind, left poor 4th from 2 out, 4th of 8, 28l behind Monterrico (10-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Mighty Fella 66-1 (11-4) Always behind, tailed off from 8th, 16th of 17, well behind McQueen (11-3) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gf in Jul.
Tommy Tobougg 50-1 (10-7) Towards rear, chased leaders approaching last, soon ridden and weakened, 10th of 14, 45l behind First Stream (11-0) at Kelso 2m 2f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Farne Island 8-1 (10-3) Mid-division, chased leaders 2 out, soon ridden and kept on one pace, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Annibale Caro (10-1) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
