towards rear, headway approaching 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before next
made most, headed 2 out, soon weakened
chased leader, led 5th to 11th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, lost place 6th, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, headed towards finish
in touch, every chance 2 out, soon weakened
held up, weakened from 2 out
held up in rear, ridden and weakened from 6th, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, behind from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, fell 9th
in touch, weakened approaching 9th
held up, ridden 6th, soon weakened
chased leaders, pushed along 5th, weakened approaching 8th, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, mistakes, led towards finish
Whistling Straits, Balau and Mister Bloom make up the short-list for this contest with Whistling Straits earning the vote. The selection has shown a consistent level of form between the flags and won't lack for assistance on his debut under Rules with the experienced Richard Burton booked to do the steering. Balau is another making his Rules debut and also comes into this race in winning form having got the better of Gielgud at Detling at the end of the last month but he had fallen prior to that and his jumping has to be a concern this afternoon. Last but by no means least on the short-list comes Mister Bloom who failed to trouble the judge in ten starts in Ireland but this half-brother to War Of Attrition opened his account between the flags for his new connections last month and has to enter the equation. The market should prove informative but we'll take a chance with Whistling Straits.
Balau 5-1 (12-0) Trckd ldrs; led aft 4 out; drvn & stayed on wl, won at Detling 3m ptp gd in Jan beating Gielgud (12-0) by 16l, 13 ran.
Cash In Hand (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Led to 2nd, remained prominent, mistake 6th, chasing winner when hit 4 out, soon no chance, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 11, 24l behind Benrajah (11-5) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp hts chs (3) gd in May.
Cullen Road (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Made most frm 5; clr 3 out, won at Cottenham 3m ptp frm in Mar beating Albert House (12-0) by 20l, 10 ran.
Euryalus (IRE) 10-1 (12-4) Led aft 3-6 & 9-10; wknd 12; wl bhnd when pulled up in race won by Mister Banjo (12-0) at Chaddesley Corb' 3m ptp gd, 11 ran.
Highland Vasco (IRE) 5-1 (12-5) Led app 2 out til drvn & hdd last, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Sure Future (12-5) at High Easter 3m ptp sft in Jan '07.
Mister Bloom (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Trckd ldrs; led 4 out; rdn clr flat, won at Weston Park 3m ptp gd in Jan beating Ben Ryan (12-0) by 8l, 7 ran.
Pagans Dancer 33-1 (12-0) In tch til wknd 13; t.o & pulled up in race won by Marblehead (12-0) at Chaddesley Corb' 3m ptp gd, 13 ran.
Present Moment (IRE) 20-1 (12-5) T.o & pulled up in race won by Lord Of Illusion (12-5) at Weston Park 3m ptp gd in Jan, 8 ran.
Quarry Road (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Held up; hdwy 15; wknd nxt, 5th of 11, 38l behind Senor Cid (12-0) at Chipley Park 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Springwood White 25-1 (11-7) Towards rear, ridden approaching 9th, soon weakened, 9th of 11, well behind Alpine Warrior (11-11) at Cartmel 2m 5f mdn hts chs (6) gd in May.
Story Arms 25-1 (12-0) Hdwy 4; wknd 10; pulled up in race won by Sound Stage (11-7) at Larkhill 2m 4f ptp gd in Jan, 12 ran.
Vic's Last Chance (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) In rear, jumped slowly, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 6th in race won by Be Fair (12-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd in May, 13 ran.
Whistling Straits (IRE) 9-4 (12-5) A.p; led last; r.o wl, won at Sheriff Hutton 3m ptp sft in Jan beating Glenelly Gale (12-5) by 6l, 9 ran.
