held up in rear, took closer order 10th, almost upsides when not fluent 4 out, left in lead 3 out, ridden before last, stayed on flat
led, joined when fell 3 out
raced in 2nd, awkward 1st, relegated to rear but still close up 10th, left in 2nd 3 out, kept on from last but could not match winner
NonRunner
NonRunner
EMPIRE DE MAULDE scored at Aintree last summer and again at Kelso in October. He had a pipe-opener over hurdles here last month and this is his ground. The King Of May won at Sedgefield in January but was beaten eight lengths by Dalyotin back there last month though will be 9lb better off. Buster Valentine took advantage of testing ground to score at Wetherby so could do with some rain while Sirwilliamwallace reportedly lost a shoe on the latter track in December and isn't out of this on his best form.
The King Of May (FR) 13-8fav (11-2) Close up, chased leading pair 3 out, ridden next, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 5, 4 1/4l behind Whoshotthesheriff (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Buster Valentine (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Led, ridden and headed 9th, steady headway and led 3 out, joined 2 out, kept on gamely run in, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Mar beating Indian Brave (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Sirwilliamwallace (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, mistake next, weakened 4 out, blundered 2 out, pulled up before next, at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Empire De Maulde (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, no impression from next, weakened flat, last of 6, 8 1/4l behind Big Bad Bear (10-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Dalyotin (FR) 85-40 (11-0) Tracked leaders, chased leader 10th, led 2 out, ridden approaching next, stayed on, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating The King Of May (11-12) by 8l, 5 ran.
