towards rear, some headway 7th, weakened 3 out
pulled hard and held up in touch, chased leader 7th, ridden and found nil 2 out
in touch, headway after 8th, led after 9th, ridden 2 out, kept on well
towards rear, blundered 6th and lost touch, pulled up before 3 out
always prominent, ridden and chased leaders 3 out, kept on same pace
mid-division, weakened 7th, pulled up before last
prominent, ridden and lost place 6th, tailed off and ridden when collapsed and unseated rider close home
chased leader, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace
mid-division, ridden and lost touch 7th, rallied and kept on one pace from after 3 out
mid-division, headway 8th, ridden 9th, soon weakened
held up behind, headway 7th, ridden 8th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
led, ridden approaching 9th, headed after, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last, dismounted
towards rear, ridden and lost touch 8th, pulled up before 3 out
Three Lions can win this opener at the expense of Public Esteem and Foly Pleasant. The selection is the winner of seven races to date but was coming back from a years lay off when looking like scoring on his return to the track only to tire in the closing stages to finish second. He has been prone to injury throughout his career and was having his first outing for David Pipe that day. He should improve for fitness after that run and has a fine lady rider booked so is the one horse to stay on the right side of. Public Esteem to his credit has run a couple of decent races recently. He finished a good fourth of fifteen at Uttoxeter last time out in a handicap chase and connections have dropped him in class here which could see him enter the frame. Public Esteem is totally unexposed with only four runs under his belt. His latest was in a first time handicap at Aintree when finishing fifth of seventeen to Marufo. With further improvement still to come he could be a live danger to Three Lions but we feel the last named should be able to come out on top.
Oxybau (FR) 66-1 (11-6) Always behind, 10th of 12, well behind Green Prospect (10-13) at N Abbot 2m 3f clm hdl (5) gf in May.
Three Lions 11-2 (10-13) Held up, steady headway from 6th, led 3 out, kept on from last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Barren Lands (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (5) gf in May.
Public Esteem (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Prominent, close up 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, no extra from 2 out, 5th of 17, 12l behind Marufo (11-12) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Moscow Summit (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened next, tailed off, 7th of 10, 47l behind Kosciusko (10-5) at N Abbot 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gf in May.
Foly Pleasant (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Soon rear division, stayed on one pace from 3 out, 4th of 15, 13l behind Jackella (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in May.
Temper Lad (USA) 10-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, weakened 7th, 5th of 12, 40l behind Dusty Dane (11-6) at Towcester 2m 5f clm hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Happy Hussar (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Hit 2nd, always behind, tailed off from 10th, 7th of 8, well behind Le Duc (12-0) at Sandown 3m amt chs (3) gd in Feb.
Heaven Is Above (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Chased leaders until lost place 10th, headway after 3 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Gunnabelil (9-7) at Plumpton 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Dunkerron 14-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway to chase winner 6th, not fluent 7th, ridden and lost touch 8th, 8th of 9, well behind Jupon Vert (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in May.
Slow To Part (IRE) 22-1 (10-0) Took keen hold, prominent, mistake 2nd, headway 11th, ridden when mistake 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Earcomesannie (9-9) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May, 15 ran.
Gouranga 20-1 (10-5) Always behind, tailed off from 7th, 4th of 8, 48l behind Ofarel D'airy (10-7) at N Abbot 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in May.
Carroll's O'Tully (IRE) 13-2 (9-7) Led to 1st, tracked leaders, chased winner 4 out to next, soon ridden and one pace, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Cute N You Know It (11-9) at Wetherby 3m ldy hcp hdl (5) gf in May.
Gift Of Life (FR) 25-1 (10-7) Lost tch 11; unseated rider in race won by Lunar Crystal (11-7) at Llanvapley 3m ptp gd in Apr, 8 ran.
