tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, not fluent next, driven to challenge 2 out, stayed on same pace closing stages
in touch, progress to chase leaders 5 out, led 2 out, ran on well
led, keen, headed 2 out, weakened
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders after 5 out, every chance 2 out, kept on well closing stages, not pace of winner
chased leaders, lost place 5 out, rallied 2 out, no extra after last
Barman is now on a career-high mark after making all at Taunton and may struggle to dominate this field on a more galloping track. POPPY KAY won two of her five starts last season. She's a tough mare and stays further than this so would likely profit from a strong gallop. Sea Wall came good when conditions turned testing earlier this year but won't have his favoured going on his reappearance. Volpone Jelois was running well off this sort of mark in the spring, however, and looks better treated than Utility and Chti Balko.
Utility (GER) 8-1 (11-11) Prominent, reminders after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 12, 28 1/2l behind Master Of Irony (11-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Chti Balko (FR) 28-1 (11-4) Led, ridden and headed when not fluent 3 out, weakened next, last of 9, dist behind Pingshou (11-4) at Aintree 2m (1) gd in Apr.
Poppy Kay 13-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, challenged between rivals approaching last, every chance run-in, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Secret Door (10-13) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Barman (FR) 3-1 (11-8) Led after 2nd, clear before 2 out, driven out run-in, eased last 25 yards, won at Taunton 2m hcp (3) gf in Nov beating Cloonacool (11-11) by 8l, 4 ran.
Sea Wall (FR) 4-5fav (11-11) Led 1st, headed after next, led 5th until 8th, led 4 out, clear flat, driven out, won at Leicester 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Allthegear No Idea (12-0) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Volpone Jelois (FR) 10-3 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and close up 2 out, 4th and no extra towards finish, 4th of 6, 2 1/2l behind Doubly Clever (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in May.