in touch, outpaced 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, never on terms
behind, mistake 2nd, under pressure 4 out, soon beaten
mid-division, headway to chase leaders halfway, outpaced 8th, rallied 2 out, ran on after last, every chance close home, never reached winner
held up towards rear, headway under pressure 4 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway to track leaders halfway, mistake 7th, driven to challenge 3 out, weakened after next
held up, last halfway, headway after 4 out, chased leaders next, led before last, hard ridden when pressed closing stages, held on well
tracked leader, reminders after 3rd, led 3 out, hit next, headed before last, no extra closing stages
led, soon clear, hit 2nd, joined 6th, headed 3 out, weakened next
NonRunner
Lough Salt tackled much stiffer opposition here last month and has been eased 6lb since. Ange Des Malberaux is not the first jumper to improve markedly for a switch to the Skelton yard and he’ll probably make a bold bid to complete the hat-trick. Lady Markby is better than she showed last time and has won here in the past, as has Doctor Thea. Jesse Jude and Desert Retreat have place claims again but COMELY was progressing nicely at the end of last year and, unlikely to fail through lack of fitness, she can make a winning reappearance.
Desert Retreat (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after normal 4 out, went 2nd bypassing normal 3 out, challenged bypassing normal last, soon struck on nose by rival jockeys whip, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Motueka (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f mdn (5) gd in Jul.
Lough Salt (IRE) 22-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened from last, 7th of 8, 8 1/2l behind Wynford (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Lady Markby (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) In rear, headway 6th, hampered before omitted 2 out, soon weakened, last of 9, 25 1/4l behind Marble Moon (10-1) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Jesse Jude (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Held up behind, headway after 3 out, driven to chase leaders before next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair between last 2, 3rd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Haul Away (11-1) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn (5) gd in Jun.
Ange Des Malberaux (FR) Evensfav (11-6) Jumped left at times, mid-division, closed when dived at 7th, led 3 out, clear from 2 out, dived at last, comfortably, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) gd in Jul beating Georgina Joy (10-1) by 8l, 12 ran.
Comely 5-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders 7th, went 2nd at the last, trying to challenge when carried briefly left and slightly checked run-in, soon held, 2nd of 14, 1 3/4l behind One Of Us (10-11) at Ascot 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Doctor Thea 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 3rd, given reminder, closed under pressure 7th, beaten 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 11, 17 3/4l behind Notnow Seamus (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Grey Monk (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Led, headed after bypassing 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gd in May.
Raid Stane (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Tracked leader to before 6th, in touch, outpaced 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 9, 18l behind Dreamsoftheatre (11-8) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
