in touch, headway to chase winner between last 2, every chance last, strong challenge flat, just held
not fluent 1st, mid-division, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leader, led after 4 out, strongly pressed last, driven and held on gamely flat
held up in mid-division, going well enough approaching 3 out, soon ridden and no response and weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, weakened from 3 out
held up in mid-division, stayed on approaching 2 out, shaken up and went 3rd flat, kept on well without threatening front pair
prominent in chasing group, until weakened 3 out, tailed off
led and soon clear, reduced lead and headed soon after 4 out, weakened rapidly, tailed off
mid-division, hit 5th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, chased leaders under pressure 3 out, weakened soon after
chased leaders, upsides winner from after 4 out, still upsides 2 out, lost 2nd between last 2, weakened and lost 3rd flat
in mid-division when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
always rear division, tailed off
behind, headway until mid-division approaching 3 out, soon ridden and beaten
Lead On can prove too good for Another Bottle and Special Envoy, with the market best watched for a hint on newcomers Eldorado, Letalus and Sentry Duty. Lead On should really be unbeaten in two starts, as he was coming to win his race on his Wincanton debut in January when falling at the last. He duly made amends at Taunton next time, giving 4lb to the younger penalised odds-on favourite King's Revenge in the process, and he now bids to shrug off his own rise in the weights today. A future over fences awaits come the autumn, but with conditions to suit here, the Hobbs inmate is the one to beat. Another Bottle, a fair sort for Tom Tate on the Flat, was well held in third by the selection at Taunton, and although a 6lb pull should theoretically take him closer, he would have to find a lot more to turn the tables. Like the selection, Special Envoy and Spear Thistle shoulder penalties, but both have gone off the boil of late, so it could well be that one of the newcomers will provide the most danger. Letalus was a prolific minor winner in Germany, while Sentry Duty took on Listed company on his last outing in France. He is the one most likely to stay, but may find conditions too fast here. Eldorado will have been sharpened up by a spin on the all-weather last month, and he should be found an opportunity in time. It is doubtful whether that will be today though, and we would much rather stick with Lead On.
Lead On (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) In touch, joined leaders after 3 out, led final 100 yards, ran on well, won at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating King's Revenge (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Spear Thistle 25-1 (11-10) Always mid-division, 8th of 17, 24l behind Or Jaune (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Special Envoy (FR) 125-1 (11-7) Held up, headway after 2 out, staying on at one pace when hit last, no extra, 7th of 22, 11l behind Ebaziyan (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) sft.
Another Bottle (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up, progress from 3 out, stayed on to go 3rd flat, nearest finish, 3rd of 14, 7l behind Lead On (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Appleaday (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden over 4f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 10, 15l behind Crocodiles Rock (11-7) at Newbury 2m nhf Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Double Obsession 20-1 (10-12) Mistake 1st, mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 12, 20l behind Money Order (10-12) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Eldorado 7-1 (9-12) Behind, headway on outside 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Newnham (9-7) at Lingfield 2m app hcp (5) pol in Feb (Flat).
Haxton 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Ordre de Bataille (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov, 18 ran.
King's Minstrel (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Led until headed after 5th, soon weakened, 11th of 12, well behind Money Order (10-12) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Letalus (GER) (9-2) Led just after halfway, ridden out, won at Neuss 7f stk std in Nov beating Esposito (9-6) by 3/4l, 7 ran (Flat).
Master of The Race 6-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 12th of 18, more than 8l behind Fredensborg (11-0) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Mr Vesuvius (NZ) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders and keen, jumped right 4th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, 47l behind Only For Sue (11-5) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Sentry Duty (FR) (9-0) Some late headway, 6th of 16, 9l behind Mister Conway (9-3) at Toulouse 1m 4f stk hvy in Dec (Flat).
Webbswood Lad (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened after, 5th of 13, 35l behind My Turn Now (11-6) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Asbury Park 80-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 14, 16l behind Clear Sailing (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f mdn stk (5) sft in Oct (Flat).
Enthusius 5-1fav (8-9) Tracked leader, led 8f out, headed over 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 2l behind Competitor (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol (Flat).
Pitful Tercah (FR) Useful gelding, half-brother to 1m2f & 1m4f winner Louna Bere.
Wheelavit (IRE) 10-1 (8-4) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 6l behind Lopinot (8-11) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol (Flat).
