chased winner until 6th, went 2nd after 7th until before next, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway when mistake 3 out, soon not much room on inside and bumped, ridden before 2 out, no extra final 100 yards
not always fluent in rear, behind from 8th, tailed off
made all, ridden and edged left flat, held on well
soon chasing leaders racing keenly, went 2nd 6th until after next, went 2nd again before 8th until after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on, always just being held by winner
slowly away, soon in touch, lost place after 2nd, outpaced before 2 out, went 4th and kept on flat
held up, headway 8th, went 2nd after 3 out until next, kept on same pace flat
Souriyan won this last year but is 4lb higher and hasn’t raced since August. Wynford won off this mark over course and distance last summer but TALENT TO AMUSE is probably worth a try over this longer trip given she was trapped wide in a Listed handicap at Cheltenham last month but still stayed on well to finish fourth. Gowiththeflow beat Paisley Park in a novice hurdles at Doncaster last year so is worth a market check while Becky The Thatcher is usually thereabouts. Broughtons Admiral also has strong claims on his latest second at Cheltenham as that was his first try over the trip and he’s only 2lb higher.
Souriyan (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leading pair to 9th, reminders after next, weakened after 12th, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Aug.
Wynford (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up, always towards rear, 9th of 14, dist behind Colonial Dreams (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Satoshi (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, under pressure approaching 3 out, soon beaten, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Champagne Champ (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Gowiththeflow (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, weakened after next, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Tapaculo 9-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, slightly hampered 2nd, never on terms, eased when blundered and unseated rider last, at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Becky The Thatcher 16-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders 2 out, soon outpaced and ridden, went 2nd and kept on flat, gaining towards finish, never quite getting to winner, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Solo Saxophone (11-6) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Talent To Amuse (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway on outside before 2 out, 4th last, kept on same pace flat, 4th of 16, 7 1/2l behind Sunshade (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Broughtons Admiral 25-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway before 7th, led off last bend, mistake last, headed flat, no impression on winner, kept on, 2nd of 13, 5l behind Tobefair (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
