tracked leaders, led approaching and not fluent 3 out, headed after next, kept on same pace
held up in touch, headway 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before last
chased leaders, slow 2nd, soon in rear, slow next, outpaced 4 out, stayed on sfter next, no extra closing stages
led, pulled hard, mistake 1st, soon headed, led again 3rd, hung right and headed after 4 out, quickly pulled up before next
in touch, driven to challenge approaching 3 out, every chance when not fluent 2 out, led before last, ran on well
led after 1st, headed 3rd, remained prominent, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, took closer order before 3 out, weakened approaching 2nd last
Leviathan continues to tumble down the weights and is starting to look well treated, though he's disappointed in his last two starts. Mollasses had decent form as a novice last year and it's interesting that Harry Whittington has booked Richard Johnson for his reappearance. The lightly-raced Thunder Sheik won well at Haydock last Saturday but the ground has turned against him here and he also has a penalty to overcome. GALA BALL keeps pulling out extra and, though raised a further 10lb since completing his hat-trick over course and distance, looks the one to beat again as Close Touch has a long absence to overcome and Montbazon suffered a heavy fall at Cheltenham.
Gala Ball (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, every chance 2 out, led before last, ran on well, won at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Boite (11-5) by 7l, 11 ran.
Close Touch 14-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, hit 9th, lost place when hampered 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out, at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gd in Apr.
Montbazon (FR) 25-1 (10-12) In touch when blundered and unseated rider 2nd, at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Mollasses 15-2 (9-12) In touch, ridden over 2f out, ran on final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Saraha (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp fll (5) pol in Sep.
Thunder Sheik (IRE) 15-2 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden to challenge last, led run-in, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m hcp (2) gd in Mar beating Kings Bayonet (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Mr Fitzroy (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Mid-division, weakened before 4 out, 14th of 17, dist behind Rock The Kasbah (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Leviathan 8-1 (11-6) In touch, hard driven 3 out, weakened after next, 6th of 12, 16 1/4l behind Floresco (10-13) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
