with leader until approaching 2nd, stayed 2nd until before 6th where blundered and weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 6th, chasing leaders next, soon went 3rd, stayed on same pace
held up in rear on outside, cajoled along 4th, headway approaching 6th, soon challenging, led before 2 out, clear approaching last, stayed on well
tracked front pair, jumped left 2nd, led approaching 6th, headed 3 out, weakened before next
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, chasing leaders 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
led, not fluent 3rd, soon went clear, headed approaching 6th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on from 2 out
in touch, hampered and lost place bend before 6th, rallied to chase leaders 3 out, soon no further impression
in rear until pulled up before 4th
mid-division on inside, headway on outer approaching 6th, chasing leaders 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
in touch, not fluent 3rd, lost place next, hit 5th, headway approaching 6th, led 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, well held when mistake last
mid-division on outside, lost place 4th, last and detached after next, pulled up before 3 out
Santera arrives in form but there are grounds for taking her on and we'll do so in the shape of AGENTE ROMANO, with Organisateur and I Hear A Symphony others to consider in a competitive race. We'll start with Santera who won her last start, gets in here under a lovely racing weight and has the assistance of Timmy Murphy in the saddle. However, her reason wins have been in plating class races and off a mark of 110 this is much tougher with ready preference for Evan Williams' Agente Romano, a horse who seems to enjoy good ground. This horse won well last time in what looked a strong novice hurdle and must have claims now racing in handicap with the slight drop in trip unlikely to pose a problem. Organisateur won decisively in the end last time but his stablemate fell when going well and he might be flattered by this lofty rating of 128. Nortonthorpe Lad is an admirable type who's paid his way over the years but this eight-year-old hasn't yet won beyond 2m1f and can be opposed, with I Hear A Symphony of more interest at a potentially rewarding price. He's not been with current connections all that long and is only 5lbs higher than when winning at Huntingdon under similar conditions. This race is probably the best on the card and there are several with claims, none though convince more than Agente Romano.
Tritonville Lodge (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Led until 3 out, weakened before next, 9th of 16, 26l behind Mous Of Men (10-6) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
I Hear A Symphony (IRE) 40-1 (10-2) Held up, mainly always towards rear, 15th of 22, 42l behind Sir Harry Ormesher (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Nortonthorpe Lad (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Mid-division, hampered bend after 3rd, headway on outer before 2 out, one pace flat, 5th of 16, 8l behind Mous Of Men (10-6) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Mister Benedictine 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden into moderate 6th before straight, no extra from before last, 13th of 24, 29l behind Sivota (10-11) at Punchestown 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (8Evens23) (4yo+) gd in Apr.
Armenian Boy (FR) 16-1 (10-1) Not fluent, always in rear, 13th of 14, 22l behind Templer (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gf in Oct.
Agente Romano (USA) 11-1 (11-8) Led, headed 4 out, led again narrowly 2 out, ridden and ran on flat, won at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Mar beating Whenever (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Freddy's Star (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division, took keen hold, ridden after 7th, struggling approaching 3 out, 8th of 9, well behind Al Co (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
Sebastiano (FR) 2-1fav (11-6) Chased leaders, slow 3rd, under pressure 7th, soon beaten, last of 4, well behind Alesandro Mantegna (11-3) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Jocheski (IRE) 22-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 8th of 17, 30l behind Swincombe Rock (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Robo (FR) 8-1 (10-4) In touch, ridden and weakend before 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Galaxy Rock (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Santera (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Held up behind, headway and in touch 4 out, led before 2 out, ridden and stayed on flat, won at Bangor 2m 1f mrs clm hdl (4yo+) (4) gs in Mar beating Dabaratsa (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Organisateur (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Head up, steady headway from 7th, chased leaders from next, 2 lengths 2nd and staying on but looked held when left clear last, won at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr beating Stormhoek (11-0) by 8l, 12 ran.
