chased leaders, pushed along after 5th, soon weakened, hit 3 out
chased leaders, driven and outpaced after 3 out, went moderate 3rd before last
held up, headway from 3 out, went 2nd well before 2 out, challenged and hit 2 out, led last, driven out
always behind, well beaten when mistake 3 out, tailed off
led, ridden well before 2 out, pressed 2 out, headed last, no extra flat
chased leader to well before 2 out, soon weakened and lost moderate 3rd well before last
A small field but an interesting lineup and we will side with Liberate who is the best treated in this contest; Zilcash is an obvious danger along with Overstrand and Royal Shakespeare. The selection comes here on the back of a fair reappearance last weekend. He looked in need of the run at Chepstow and stripping fitter this afternoon, the Triumph Hurdle runner-up should be a major player. The stable are hitting a purple patch and with more to come from the four-year-old, Liberate gets our vote. He holds Zilcash on their running back in November of last year, however the last-named has improved since. If he is fully tuned up for his reappearance then the hat-trick is a feasible possibility. Overstrand and Royal Shakespeare both have to give weight away due to successes in better class races, but the last-named should be fit from a recent outing on the flat and mustn't be underestimated. Overstrand has a very good strike-rate and Richard Newland's eight-year-old has gone very well fresh in the past. Alph cannot be overlooked but the ten-year-old has a bit to find, whilst Fandani returns from a monster break but is entitled to need the run. An intriguing race where the old take on the new but Liberate can set them all free.
Overstrand (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, ridden and disputing 6th, keeping on same pace when fell 2 out in race won by Albertas Run (10-4) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr, 21 ran.
Royal Shakespeare (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Settled 3rd, improved into close 2nd 4 out, disputed lead after 3 out, headed before 2 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Another Promise (11-12) at Punchestown 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Alph 20-1 (11-1) Mistake 1st and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Forest Green (10-4) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May, 13 ran.
Fandani (GER) 12-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, steady headway from after 2nd, went 3rd 5th, led going well after 2 out, hard pressed when fell fell at the last in race won by Desert Quest (11-7) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Mar '06, 14 ran.
Liberate 9-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden and weakened 2 out, 7th of 12, 18l behind Gwanako (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd.
Zilcash 2-5fav (11-2) Chased leader, led 5th, soon clear, hit last, won at Aintree 2m nov hdl (4) gd in May beating Sendani (10-10) by 12l, 8 ran.
