led, jumped right 6th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened soon after and mistake last
held up tracking leaders, ridden and reminders 8th, chased leaders 4 out, one pace 2 out, mistake last
always behind
held up in touch, ridden and outpaced 4 out, headway approaching 3 out, pressed winner 2 out, every chance last, weakened flat
tracked leader, hit 4 out, ridden to lead approaching 3 out, wandered approaching last, ran on well
A small field here with Moscow Whisper, Three Lions and Musally forming the short list and we take Moscow Whsiper to do the business. Philip Hobbs' gelding relishes this quicker ground, stays well and is fairly consistent, so we will take his recent Southwell third as a plus. Richard Johnson is on board to add to our confidence, and he is the one they all have to beat. There is little to choose between Three Lions and Reem Two, but as a proven stayer Three Lions is just preferred for the forecast. Admittedly he would prefer slightly easier ground, but he sees out three miles well, jumps well in the main and is taken to come home in front of Reem Two, who has ground to suit but who has to prove she gets this far. Musally makes marginally more appeal of the other pair, but we prefer Moscow Whisper to the lot of them.
Moscow Whisper (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, not quicken, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Enhancer (11-10) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf.
Reem Two 40-1 (9-7) Chased leaders on outer, driven after 3 out, stayed on one pace from 2 out, no extra run-in, 5th of 16, 8l behind Golden Bay (9-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Three Lions 8-1 (10-10) Held up, headway 7th, 5 lengths 6th when fell 4 out in race won by Always Waining (11-2) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Apr, 13 ran.
Musally 25-1 (10-5) Keen, mid-division, ridden 7th, headway approaching 3 out, in touch when fell 2 out in race won by Kristoffersen (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Apr, 14 ran.
Business Traveller (IRE) 7-1 (9-12) Always behind, weakened from 4th, tailed off, 5th of 12, 22l behind Enhancer (11-10) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf.
