mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon beaten
mid-division until 6th, soon behind, tailed off, pulled up after 3 out
tracked leader, led after 7th, clear when hit 2 out and last, comfortably
chased leaders, went left 6th, soon struggling, stayed on to go 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon ridden, chased winner approaching next, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, ridden when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led until after 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
held up, hit 2nd and 4th, ridden when mistake 3 out, stayed on from next, went 3rd flat
never fluent, mistake 1st, always towards rear
held up, ridden, headway after 6th, weakened 3 out
Le Beau Bai will be popular with punters after a win last time but we are going to take him on here with Oakfield Legend, while Gun Smith is respected. The selection tries this track for the first time and reverts to hurdling for the first time in a couple of years. He is rated just 90 over hurdles compared to 119 over fences, so he could just be very well in here, and he stays well and also acts on the ground so we'll side with him. Le Beau Bai has yet to confirm that he stays this far, after being thrashed twice when stepped up in trip. In addition to that David Pipe's runner has yet to win on ground faster than good to soft, so he has a bit more to prove there and we will oppose him after a 6lb rise for winning. Gun Smith won a Ludlow bumper on debut last year, acts on decent ground and can clearly go well when fresh, so a two month break will help and he can also get heavily involved. Enroblim Trop has disappointed a little lately, Tarateeno looks a bit one-paced and Chancery Lad is of more interest with first-time headgear, but Oakfield Legend is the one for us.
Le Beau Bai (FR) 9-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed last, rallied to lead close home, won at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Apr beating Rawdon (10-13) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Enroblim Trop (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Held up, ridden and headway 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 11, 39l behind Fairoak Lad (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Nils Anderson (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Mid-division, weakened 14th and pulled up 4 out in race won by I'm Supreme (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
Thumbprint (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden when mistake 5th, soon weakened, 12th of 15, well behind Sir Peter (11-10) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
Gun Smith 9-1 (11-12) In touch, headway to challenge 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 8th of 12, 29l behind Charles Street (9-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Chancery Lad (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden and weakened from 8th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Doris's Gift (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl (4) gf, 14 ran.
Oakfield Legend 6-1 (11-12) Led 2nd, ridden and headed after 4 out, held when hit 3 out, 2nd of 9, 16l behind Even More (11-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Apr.
Madam Vouvray 12-1 (10-8) Always behind, under pressure 5th, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Eila (10-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Galley Law 25-1 (11-8) Always in the rear, 8th of 16, well behind Nick's Choice (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Mar.
Drumroe 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division when fell at the 4th in race won by Lily Tara (11-8) at Stratford 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl (5) gd in Mar, 14 ran.
Tarateeno 7-1 (10-13) In touch, ridden approaching 2 out, soon no chance with leaders, 4th of 11, 12l behind Critical Stage (11-12) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Apr.
