held up in touch, challenged 3 out, led last, edged left last, headed towards finish
held up in touch, bumped 1st, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up, mistake 4th, switched right approaching last, never troubled leaders
tracked leaders, every chance when went left approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
led to 5th, led after 6th until approaching 3 out, weakened before last
mid-division, pulled hard, headway after 6th, 6th when blundered badly 3 out, beaten after
mid-division, headway after 6th, shaken up approaching 2 out, stayed on flat to lead towards finish
prominent, led and jumped left 5th, jumped left next, soon headed, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, headed when hit last, no extra towards finish
in touch, ridden after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, no chance after 6th
mid-division, pulled hard, jumped right 1st, stayed on from 2 out, never threatened leaders
held up in rear, effort approaching 3 out, soon ridden, never threatened leaders
mid-division, ridden and struggling after 6th, tailed off
prominent, took keen hold, lost place approaching 6th, soon dropped rear
held up in rear, effort 3 out, no further progress
jumped badly right, soon behind, tried to refuse and unseated rider 6th
Of the three leading contenders on the book, Three Ships and Indian Star are perhaps more likely to run their races but Overlut is a better horse and is taken to enhance Evan Williams' fine record at the track. The selection has been highly tried over hurdles and fences in his career on both sides of the English Channel and has won four of his nineteen starts. He's never reached the heights that his connections have deemed him capable of though and he was beaten a long way on his latest start over fences at Wetherby. He wouldn't be one for maximum faith but he has the ability to win this with ease. Three Ships ran well in a course and distance 'hands and heels' seller last time and looks sure to go well with Paddy Brennan taking over in the saddle. Indian Star has been in good form of late and drops in grade after a couple of near misses in the handicap ranks and has live claims. Perfect Storm makes the short-list, Countback and Weet For Ever need market checks and Risk Challenge would have every chance if recapturing the best of his old form. Three Ships and Indian Star are pretty solid but there are plenty of ifs and buts about the remainder, we'll take a chance with Overlut.
Three Ships 11-4 (12-0) Held up in touch, raced keenly, hampered just after 3rd, not fluent 6th, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression flat, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Thistle (10-11) at Ludlow 2m cnd sll hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Sun Bian 66-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, not fluent 5th, progress after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 38l behind Councillor Jack (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f sll hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Countback (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 8, 23l behind Share My Dream (10-6) at Chepstow 2m clm hdl (5) hvy in Mar.
Masterpoint 125-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, blundered 9th, behind from 5 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Nikola (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Mar, 7 ran.
Risk Challenge (USA) 13-2 (11-0) Led, jumped right 1st, soon clear, ridden 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 16, 8l behind Gallant Hero (11-10) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Sept.
Weet For Ever (USA) 150-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden and hampered last, one pace, 9th of 17, 43l behind Dansimar (9-8) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Indian Star (GER) 5-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon driven to challenge, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Painted Sky (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Overlut (FR) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden after 11th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, last of 4, well behind Brave Rebellion (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) gf in Mar.
Perfect Storm 8-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, 9th of 12, 34l behind Littlemissdynamite (9-12) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Argento 100-1 (10-7) Keen and always towards rear, 8th of 13, well behind Final Bid (11-9) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Benellino 100-1 (11-5) Chased leaders until 4th, soon behind, tailed off, 11th of 14, well behind Bertie May (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Desert Lover (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up and behind, raced keenly, not fluent 5th, shaken up and effort approaching 3 out, no impression, 6th of 11, 25l behind Thistle (10-11) at Ludlow 2m cnd sll hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Fantasy Legend (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) Behind from 2nd, 9th of 18, 45l behind Abit Irish (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Feb.
Padre Nostro (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, 10th of 17, 46l behind Ruling Reef (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
Quarry Road (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 12, well behind Captain Becket (10-8) at Exeter 2m 3f nov sll hdl (5) gs in Mar.
Seahorse Point (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Lost touch 4th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Quizzene (11-0) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar, 7 ran.
Star Berry 40-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last, 11th of 18, 15l behind Chinara (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Swift Cut (IRE) 9-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened quickly over 2f out, 7th of 8, 44l behind King's Fable (9-6) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Mar (Flat).
