chased leaders until lost place at 4th, headway 5th, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, kept on but always held
mid-division, headway 4th, ridden to lead after 3 out, kept on well
in touch until 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
prominent, ridden approaching 5th, weakened 3 out
soon struggling and always in rear
held up, mistake 3rd, ridden and some headway after 5th, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, headway 5th, soon ridden, kept on same pace
soon chasing leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened next
led until after 3rd, soon weakened
always towards rear
soon tracking leaders, led briefly after 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from next
towards rear, mistake 4th, hit 5th, some headway after 3 out, never troubled leaders
The usual suspects in opposition and Lunar Crystal is preferred to Lesdream and Master Albert. The selection does not help himself too much by pulling hard in his races but with the handicapper making life difficult for him, connections are forced into taking these sorts of opportunities. Effective on any ground, David Pipe's charge does at least know how to win. Lesdream makes a debut for Jane Mathias having been sold out of Jimmy Frost's yard post his recent Newton Abbot victory. He is thoroughly exposed but will run to his mark. Master Albert has struggled to rediscover his Irish form since joining Jonjo O'Neill. It is unusual to see the silks of JP McManus at this level and this represents a massive drop in class. A Double Ewe Bee is exposed at plating levels and might be better over shorter. City General showed nothing on reappearance while Are You There is one to take note of should there be any early support. Of the remainder, Nobel Calling drops in grade having struggled in handicaps.Not a race that will live long in the memory and Lunar Crystal receives the tentative vote.
Lesdream 11-8fav (10-12) Led 2nd until 4th, led 6th, ridden and headed after 3 out, led again next, not fluent last, ridden out, won at N Abbot 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gs beating Doctor Wood (10-5) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Lunar Crystal (IRE) 13-8 (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 7th, ridden after 3 out, kept on, always held by winner, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Hawadeth (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gf.
City General (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Prominent until 6th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Pantherus (11-1) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd, 13 ran.
King's Travel (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Always in rear, lost touch 5th and pulled up at the 6th in race won by Galway (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gf in Mar, 14 ran.
Master Albert (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) In touch in chasing group, behind from 4th, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Orcadian (11-12) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Rural Reprimand 28-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 6th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 16, well behind Westfield Dancer (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl (5) gf.
A Double Ewe Bee 11-4 (9-12) In touch, led after 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, close 2nd when mistake last, no extra, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Lesdream (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gs.
Are You There 10-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, bumped 3rd, weakning when mistake 2 out, 7th of 11, 24l behind Spinning Coin (10-10) at Exeter 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
