in touch, jumped left, headway to lead 4th, hit and headed next, ridden after 3 out, soon no impression
held up and behind, tailed off from 3 out
tracked leader, led 5th, ridden 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well under pressure flat
close up, not fluent 3rd, ridden and weakened quickly after next, tailed off
in touch, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden and every chance, no extra flat
behind, struggling from 5th, tailed off 3 out
behind, driven and headway 5th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, no imprression from next
led until mistake and headed 4th, soon weakened, tailed off 3 out
jumped badly and soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up after 4th
Dan's Heir can be the answer to this puzzle although John Forbes and Vracca are obvious dangers. Pat Haslam saddles two in the race but he has a particularly high strike rate when AP McCoy rides for him and the eye is attracted by Dan's Heir. A lightly raced type, he stayed a mile-and-a-half well on the flat so there is little reason to suspect he cannot get two miles over hurdles. His stable companion, Good Investment didn¿t get so far and looks to be second string on all known evidence. John Forbes has the benefit of track experience. A disappointing favourite, he may well be more patiently ridden on this occasion. Vracca was also scheduled to run in that event but was unruly at the start and refused to race. The fact that he attracted a high claiming tag in his native France must hint of a modicum of latent ability. Cold Play achieved little on the flat for Jamie Osborne but his pedigree suggests that the trip should not inconvenience. Tidal Fury has won at Auteuil on overseas raids for Jonathan Jay. The ground there is notoriously slower than here so conceding a penalty won in France looks a tough ask. Goldstar Dancer is already on his third trainer having started life with Ger Lyons in Ireland. He is matchfit on recent evidence and the market is given a cursory inspection. Not a lot to go on but we will chance that Tony McCoy has had first pick of the Haslam pair and will look to Dan¿s Heir as the most likely suitor.
Tidal Fury (IRE) (9-13) 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Sunny Winner at Auteuil 2m1f Lstd hdl hvy in June.
Cold Play 20-1 (9-7) Held up rear, ridden 8f out, never a danger, 9th of 12, 29l behind Kirkhammerton (9-7) at W'hampton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Jun (Flat).
Dan's Heir 8-1 (8-0) Prominent, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Spinning Coin (9-0) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jun (Flat).
Giant's Rock (IRE) 5-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, always in rear, last of 9, 8l behind Eloquent Knight (8-2) at Leicester 1m 3yo hcp (5) gs in Apr (Flat).
Goldstar Dancer (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Behind, some headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 7th of 15, 7l behind Toss The Caber (9-6) at Musselburgh 1m 1f 3yo hcp (6) gf (Flat).
Good Investment 9-1 (9-7) Chased leaders to over 2f out, soon weakened, 15th of 18, 19l behind Wahchi (10-5) at Pontefract 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (5) gf in Jun (Flat).
John Forbes 5-2fav (10-12) Led, not fluent 1st, mistake 5th, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 16, 16l behind Polar Passion (10-5) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gf.
Haenertsburg (IRE) 10-1 (8-0) Raced wide in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 11, 14l behind He's A Star (8-7) at Leicester 1m 2f 3yo clm (5) gd (Flat).
Hunipot 100-1 (8-7) Raced wide in mid-division, ridden, some headway 3f out, soon weakened, last of 12, well behind Eminence Gift (8-7) at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo sll (6) gd (Flat).
Vracca 4-1 (10-5) refused to race in race won by Polar Passion (10-5) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gf, 16 ran.
