mid-division, headway on inside 4 out, led 2 out, headed flat, no extra towards finish
prominent, bumped 2nd, soon led, headed 6th, led and reminder 9th, headed 14th, led after 4 out, headed 2 out, held final 100 yards, kept on
tracked leaders, not much room 1st, pushed along before 3 out, held last, edged left and stayed on same pace flat
chased leaders, shaken up after 15th, lost place before 3 out
held up in 6th, headway going well 3 out, not fluent 2 out, led flat, stayed on
led, mistake 1st, jumped left and bumped 2nd, soon headed, led 6th, headed 9th, led 14th until after 4 out, mistake 2 out no extra last
held up in rear, blundered badly 8th, headway 2 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish
Sigurd is 3lb better off when just over two lengths behind BAFANA BLUE (NAP) at Wetherby last month but Maurice Barnes’ stayer has run cracking races in defeat since at Perth and Ayr and can confirm that form if a busy schedule hasn’t taken its toll. Lord Getaway’s second at Uttoxeter was his best run for a while but Very First Time is unreliable while Well Smitten probably doesn’t stay this far. Minella Voucher has run up a sequence of placed efforts and is only a pound higher than for his last victory so is on a fair mark but he’s another unproven over a trip this far.
Very First Time 8-1 (11-5) Held up, not fluent 14th, closed when bumped slightly next, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Bafana Blue 5-1 (11-1) Prominent, ridden along when not fluent 4 out (usual 5 out), every chance when mistake next, plugged on to go second flat, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Exit To Where (10-4) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gs in May.
Lord Getaway (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 6 out, chased leaders 4 out, went third 2 out, stayed on into second on run in, 2nd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Hard To Forget (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Sigurd (GER) 6-4fav (11-6) Ran in snatches, held up in last pair pushed along before 12th, 4th and plenty to do jumping the last, ran on well run-in, almost snatched 2nd, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Bafana Blue (11-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Well Smitten (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, not much room on inside and big jump 3 out, stayed on flat, never dangerous, 6th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Sandy Boy (11-9) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in May.
Hedgeinator (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Led until after 1st, 2nd until next, chased leaders, ridden 13th, well beaten from 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 13, dist behind Danilo D'Airy (10-0) at Warwick 3m hcp (5) sft in May.
Minella Voucher 10-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, steady headway from 14th, switched left and went 2nd going well 2 out, led last, ridden and headed flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Tudors Treasure (11-3) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (5) gs in May.
