mid-division, headway 6th, challenged after 3 out, led briefly approaching 2 out where not fluent, no extra flat
took keen hold, always prominent, led after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon led again, pushed out flat, held on
prominent, ridden after 5th, no extra last
held up in rear, hung left after 2 out, never dangerous
in touch until ridden and weakened after 3 out
mid-division, headway on outside 6th, 5th and weakening when stumbled badly 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before last
led until approaching 3 out, weakened well before next
pulled hard towards rear, ridden after 6th, headway approaching 2 out, never dangerous
mid-division, headway 4th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, blundered 2 out, pulled up before last
in rear, blundered 5th, ran on from 2 out, nearest finish
towards rear, reminder after 3rd, struggling 6th, mistake 3 out
always in rear, pulled up before 6th
in touch, not fluent and lost place 3rd, headway 6th, went 3rd 2 out, close 2nd last, ran on, just held
always towards rear
Galant Eye is a course and distance winner and there are alternatives with Eddie Dowling and Low Delta but our selection in this contest is PEARLY STAR. The Jim Best option was not disgraced when finishing sixth, ten lengths behind Alldunnandusted, at Fontwell and the winner of that race has since gone on to score another very good victory. The selection won well three races ago at Plumpton and is the best we can find in a relatively weak field. The veteran Galant Eye may be able to turn back the clock here and follow up a victory at this course in 2006. After running a respectable enough third last time there are slim hopes that an even better performance may follow. Eddie Dowling is decently bred and won a race last year over a slightly shorter trip. One of the youngest horses in the field may have plenty more to offer and it is worth checking the market movements to see whether there is any money coming in for this horse. Low Delta has a sole victory to his name and will need to produce a better effort than latest tries to challenge here. Rock Me is rated well compared to the rest of the field and has interesting pedigree, but tentatively we side with Pearly Star to get the victory.
Rock Me (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, soon lost place, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by House Of Bourbon (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gf in May, 14 ran.
Public Esteem (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) 3rd when fell 10, in a race won by Virginia Preuil (11-0) at Brampton Bryan 3m ptp sft in Apr, 7 ran.
Pearly Star 9-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, 8th of 13, 29l behind Cash Back (10-5) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Low Delta (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, lost place when hit 7th, soon behind, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Thatlldoforme (10-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Paradise Regained (FR) 28-1 (11-8) Raced wide, always behind, ridden 5th, struggling 7th, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Nomad (9-10) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Go Free 22-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, hit 7th, jumped right 8th and 9th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled before 4 out, in a race won by Over The Flow (11-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May, 12 ran.
Mr Straffan (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Held up in touch, in 4th and weakening when blundered 2 out, 5th of 14, 20l behind Norisan (10-1) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Young Tot (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Towards rear, hit 4th, weakened 8th, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Earth Dream (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Turkish Sultan (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, took keen hold, ridden after 6th, weakening when hit 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, 38l behind Letham Island (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m cond sll hdl (5) gd in May.
Eddie Dowling 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 3rd flat, never nearer, 3rd of 14, 13l behind Risk Challenge (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Killing Me Softly 9-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, pushed along and in rear from 5th, some headway 10th, no impression, 6th of 12, 37l behind Over The Flow (11-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May.
Galant Eye (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, lost place 5th, slightly hampered 3 out, rallied approaching next, went 3rd before last, stayed on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 12, 15l behind Marlborough Sound (11-4) at Towcester 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Knockvicar (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden after 7th, weakened and hit 3 out, 9th of 11, 12l behind Nomad (9-10) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Amazing Request 16-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th and no chance when mistake and unseated rider last, in a race won by Seaquel (9-12) at Towcester 2m nov sell hdl (5) gf in May, 11 ran.
Compton Star 14-1 (9-9) Chased leader, ridden 5th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Foreign King (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in May, 9 ran.
