close up, every chance entering final furlong, kept on one pace
towards rear, headway under pressure 3f out, ridden and kept on one pace final 2f
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
dwelt towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, pushed along halfway, headway under pressure 2f out, staying on when not much room inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
led, ridden over 2f out, headed towards finish, no extra
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
Withdrawn
A competitive heat can be taken by MINORITY REPORT, while Celtic Lynn should go close. Dandy Nicholls has kept persevering with the selection, whose five career wins have all come from marks higher than today's 74. Admittedly you would have to say that the nine-year-old has not been in red hot form while sliding gradually down the handicap this spring, but he has course form to his name, has won over this trip, and handles fast ground well, so we will chance him to come good in a first-time visor. Celtic Lynn was a course winner on good to soft last month but flopped from today's mark last time out. This step up to a mile might help her find more improvement, however, and she is by no means discounted. My Mate Mal won a seller over course and distance a month ago but faces a much stiffer task today and is opposed, while the ground looks to be against Southwell scorer Byron Bay. Rosko has become a victim of his own consistency, with the handicapper reluctant to drop him despite remaining a maiden after 10 starts, and Ellmau looks likely to emerge as much more of a threat from this mark. Minority Report is taken to score.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Raced far side, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened 1f out, 9th of 14, 6l behind Captain Brilliance (9-9) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Celtic Lynn (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) In touch, headway 2f out, soon ridden and kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 4l behind Barricado (8-10) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Handsome Falcon 13-2 (9-4) Mid-division, effort over 3f out, no impression, 14th of 19, 18l behind Prince Evelith (8-11) at York 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Minority Report 6-1 (10-0) Slowly into stride and behind, ridden along halfway, headway over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 11, 4 1/2l behind King Pin (8-11) at Redcar 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Middlemarch (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Always behind, 11th of 12, 25l behind Alsace Lorraine (9-4) at Doncaster 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Rosko 17-2 (9-5) Dwelt and towards rear, chased along over 3f out, headway 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind King Pin (8-11) at Redcar 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
My Mate Mal 14-1 (8-13) In touch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 18, 19l behind Montiboli (8-13) at Ripon 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gs.
Byron Bay 9-1 (8-7) Chased leader until ridden and weakend over 2f out, 11th of 18, 13l behind Montiboli (8-13) at Ripon 1m hcp 0-65 (6) gs.
Ellmau 5-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Never Ending Tale (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Navajo Joe (IRE) 16-1 (8-8) Always behind, 12th of 14, 12l behind Barricado (8-10) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
