held up in rear, headway 5th, chased winner approaching 3 out, soon every chance, ridden after 2 out, not fluent last, weakened flat
tracked leaders, not fluent, mistake 3rd, well held in 3rd approaching 3 out until lost position last
tracked leaders, reminder after 6th, led after 8th, ridden and edged slightly left after 2 out, stayed on well flat
took keen hold, held up in rear, closed after 8th, weakened approaching 3 out
mistake 1st, tracked leader until 8th, weakened and eased soon after, puled up before 3 out
led until after 8th, 4th and well held approaching 3 out, went modest 3rd last
Withdrawn
Nicky Henderson took this last year and may do so again, with ANQUETTA taken to account for the likes of Cresswell Bubbles and Firm Order. The selection disappointed odds-on backers last time when well held, but this contest is much easier and the quicker ground is also likely to see him in a better light. His second to 130-rated City Theatre at Ffos Las reads particularly well and there will be some long faces at Seven Barrows if he doesn't go very close to landing this. Cresswell Bubbles could be a value call for forecast backers following a fair introduction to the hurdling game last time. Nigel Twiston-Davies' mare won a bumper on debut to advertise her ability and she's from a good staying family, so this step up in trip should help her to improve. Firm Order is rated 114 and therefore merits respect in such an average race especially seeing as his best form has come on ground with good in the description whilst Oursininlaw can't be discounted having taken the scalp of Oedipe last time but he's got it all to do giving weight to Anquetta who gets our confident vote.
Anquetta (IRE) 1-2fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway when jumped left and not fluent 7th, shaken up after 3 out, went left and beaten 2 out, soon weakened, went left last, 5th of 9, 23l behind Pendower (11-1) at Newbury 2m 5f mdn hdl (3) sft in Mar.
Downward Spiral (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led halfway, headed over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 13, 38l behind Bottman (11-1) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Firm Order (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Behind, headway into midfield 6th, ridden before 3 out, soon struggling, tailed off, 8th of 14, well behind Corker (10-8) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Paddy Rielly (IRE) 13-2 (8-12) Prominent, 2nd over 4f out, led over 3f out, soon ridden, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 10, 12l behind Sir Boss (9-7) at Ffos Las 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jul (flat).
Cresswell Bubbles 9-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway after 5th, weakened 2 out, 4th of 9, 23l behind Honorary Title (10-12) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Enchanted Approach (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Led until aproaching 7th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 12, 28l behind Rifleman (10-5) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Oursininlaw (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 3 out, challenged next, led between last 2, ridden and hung left under pressure flat, held on towards finish, won at Fakenham 2m 7f nh nov hdl (3) gf beating Oedipe (10-13) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
