off the pace in rear, closer in last trio after 7th, headway chasing leaders out wide and hit 3 out, 3rd before next, went 2nd strong run after the last, led nearing finish
off the pace in mid-division, headway chasing leaders from 8th, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden before next,
led until 5th, in front again after next, headed before 4 out, chased leader until before 3 out, chased leaders, went right and saddle slipped 3 out, pulled up soon after
off the pace and always in rear, tailed off 8th, never a factor
mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 8th, disputing close 2nd when mistake 4 out, chased leaders, weakened into 4th approaching 2 out
raced keenly tracking leaders, went 2nd before 9th, led before 4 out, clear between last two, over 5 lengths ahead when hit last, no extra and headed nearing finish
soon off the pace in mid-division, headway out wide before 8th, weakened 9th
chased leader until before 3rd, chased leaders, outpaced after 9th, plugged on
off the pace and in last pair, never on terms
chased leaders out wide, went 2nd after 3rd, led 5th until after next, chased leader until before 9th, chased leaders, weakened approaching 4 out
NonRunner
The handicapper is finally beginning to show Romanor some mercy while Shortcross Storm is just 2lb higher than when landing this last year. IMPERIAL JOE (NAP) tired in the closing stages over 2m5f here on his chasing bow but still won by 17 lengths. He looks a natural over fences and should handle this drop in distance as he likes to race prominently. Time For Bell should make a better chaser than hurdler while Gambie Tiep can only improve on his third at Stratford.
Romanor 6-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, went 3rd when not fluent 4 out, 2nd when mistake 2 out, no impression on winner, dropped to 4th flat, 4th of 6, 10l behind Elios D'Or (11-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Dindin (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Held up behind leaders, slow 9th, outpaced next, well beaten 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind One For Billy (12-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Shortcross Storm (IRE) 18-5fav (11-6) Led until hit 4th, mistake 7th, not fluent 3 out, no extra next, 4th of 8, 22 3/4l behind One For Billy (12-1) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Groom D'Oudairies (FR) 7-4fav (12-0) Held up in rear, some headway and closed up before 4 out, shaken up and going okay approaching 3 out, soon ridden, well held when fell last, at Ludlow 3m hcp (5) gd in May.
Gambie Tiep (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Raced keenly, chased leading pair, going well enough when hit 3 out, lost 3rd before next, not recover, left remote 3rd at the last, 3rd of 5, 20l behind Ragamuffin (12-2) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in May.
Imperial Joe (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Led until 2nd, led next, clear when stumbled 2 out, mistake last, easily, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in May beating Miss M (10-10) by 17l, 6 ran.
Pointed And Sharp (IRE) 100-1 (12-0) Not fluent, chased leaders, lost place before 10th, well beaten from 12th, 5th of 8, dist behind Story Of Friends (12-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (6) gd in May.
Forget You Not (FR) 7-2cfav (10-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 8th, not much room next, outpaced before 4 out, no impression, 5th of 6, 14 1/2l behind Elios D'Or (11-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Time For Bell (IRE) 10-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, well beaten from 4 out and never near winner, last of 5, 20 3/4l behind Windy Cove (10-2) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Royal Plaza 9-1 (10-13) Made all, ridden 2 out, not fluent last, driven out, won at Fakenham 2m hcp (5) gd in Apr beating Passing Secrets (10-11) by shd, 4 ran.
Famoso (IRE) 100-1 (11-10) Held up, pushed along and made no impression home turn, tailed off, 5th of 7, dist behind Envoye Special (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (5) gd in Apr.
