mid-division, hit 4th, ridden after next, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off
chased leader, ridden approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, headed well before last, soon held
in touch, ridden, lost place after 5th, plugged on again approaching 2 out, went 3rd approaching last
always towards rear, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened next, tailed off
led at good pace, hard ridden approaching 3 out, headed when mistake 2 out, weakened
always towards rear, tailed off
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, soon one pace
chased leaders, driven along from 3rd, weakened after 5th, tailed off
The three most interesting contenders in this seller look to be Kofi, Rapscallion and One Nation, and on this occasion the vote goes to the last named. David Pipe's runner has not seen a racecourse for over 500 days and is now a bit long in the tooth, but the connections must think he retains a fair degree of ability to have persevered with him. This sort of trip is ideal, as is good ground, and he has been much better than this lot in the past. He can go well fresh and he is unlikely to be lacking for fitness so we will chance him first-time back. Rapscallion needed every bit of Tony McCoy's abilities to justify odds-on favouritism at Fakenham last time out and is not certain to get this trip. However, he goes well in this grade and does have the ground to suit, so he is very much respected with the champ again booked. Kofi won here over slightly shorter in a seller last time and does appear to have a penchant for a bit of juice in the ground. He does stay forever though, so this trip won't be an issue at all and, like the selection, he would want this to be a decent test of stamina to be seen to best effect. Moscow Summit has some ability but is a bit shy of showing it these days and Watch Out, from a yard with a good record here, may prove best of the remainder, but One Nation is worth chancing if you must play.
Kofi 13-2 (10-9) Led, headed and hampered 3rd, led after 4th, ridden and quickened after 3 out, kept on well from 2 out, won at N Abbot 2m 1f sll hdl (5) gs in Apr beating Marc of Brilliance (10-12) by 5l, 10 ran.
Rapscallion (GER) 8-11fav (10-12) No fluent 1st, tracked leader, led approaching 5th, reminders and headed next, hard ridden and rallied after 2 out, led last, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m sll hdl (5) gf beating Aleemdar (10-9) by 3l, 12 ran.
Are You There 5-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 4th, lost place after next, stayed on flat, 4th of 9, 10l behind Santera (10-7) at Worcester 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Apr.
Duke's View (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) (cp) lost tch 13; t.o & pulled up in race won by Dr Cerullo (11-0) at Wadebridge 3m ptp hvy in Mar, 3 ran.
Moscow Summit (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, 10th halfway, no impression from 3 out, 10th of 21, 44l behind Road Runner (10-9) at Punchestown 2m 4f hacp hdl gs in Feb.
One Nation (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Led after 1st, clear from next until headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 31l behind Vicario (11-10) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Dec '06.
Prince of Aragon 66-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, mistake 4th, reminders before 9th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Alpha Gamble (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 5f amt hcp chs (5) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
Sir Night (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 29l behind John Dillon (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
Fairly High (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 6th, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Monash Lad (10-11) at N Abbot 2m 3f amt sll hdl (5) gs in Mar.
Kosciusko 17-2 (10-1) Took keen hold, tracked leaders until weakened 3 out, 5th of 6, well behind Arthurs Dream (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f sll hdl (5) sft in Mar.
Watch Out 9-1 (10-12) Held up, headway after 3 out, one pace, 4th of 12, 11l behind Southburgh (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f ldy hcp hdl (5) gd in Apr.
