held up in rear, just about in touch when not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, led before 6th, headed next, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders going well, challenged 7th, led on bit 3 out, very easily
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with very easy winner
held up, took keen hold, headway when not fluent 4th, reminder and lost place before 6th, lost touch before 7th, soon pulled up
held up on outside, headway 7th, 4th and no extra 2 out, went 3rd close home
led, pushed along after 5th, headed before next, led again when hit 7th, headed 3 out, no extra next, lost 3rd close home
Nonrunner
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Fergal O'Brien has a healthy strike-rate with the few he sends this far north and BALLYGROOBY BERTIE should be thereabouts in this. He had some decent form in novice company in the autumn and headgear brought about further improvement at Towcester last time - there should be more to come. Gordon Elliott is double-handed again with Vasco Du Mee, in first-time blinkers, preferred to the returning Goal. Parc Des Princes turns in the odd shocker but would have each-way claims on his best form and Los Nadis likes it here. So does Cool Baranca while Bescot Springs may have found a combination of soft going and a longer trip too much here last time.
Goal (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Not fluent 1st, soon raced in moderate 3rd, slight peck 5 out, soon moderate 4th, moderate 3rd again approaching straight, closed from before 2 out, 2nd and struggling to reach winner when fell last,, in a race won by Is Herself About (11-5) at Clonmel 2m beg chs gd in Dec, 6 ran.
Bescot Springs (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Prominent, lost place before 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Sybarite (11-4) at Perth 3m 3f con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Apr, 11 ran.
Vasco Du Mee (FR) 7-2fav (11-10) Soon mid-division, pushed along briefly from 7th, went moderate 6th before straight, moderate 5th from before last, kept on one pace,, 4th of 23, 6l behind Abolitionist (10-12) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl 80-102 gd in May.
Cool Baranca (GER) 11-1 (9-9) In rear and soon outpaced, last of 5, 26l behind Strongpoint (11-9) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Nelson du Ronceray (FR) 66-1 (11-3) Rear division, tailed off before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Shooting Times (10-7) at Perth 3m am hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr, 16 ran.
Molly Milan 12-1 (10-8) Mid-division, lost place and behind 4 out, no danger after, mistake last, 7th of 9, 21l behind Gold Futures (11-12) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in May.
Indepub 15-8fav (10-11) Led, headed after 3rd, chased leader, hit 2 out, soon lost 2nd and weakened, last of 5, 22l behind Hurricane Ivan (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in May.
Ballygrooby Bertie (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May beating Definite Ruby (11-11) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Majestic Mayhem (IRE) 28-1 (12-5) Prom til wknd aft 14; wl bhnd when pu 4 out, in a race won by Gunner Jack (12-5) at Dumfresshire & Stewartry 3m ptp sft in Feb, 7 ran.
Talkin Thomas (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Towards rear, reminders after 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Purcell's Bridge (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in May, 11 ran.
Spitz (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, ridden after next, kept on under pressure approaching last, never troubled leaders, 5th of 9, 13l behind Gold Futures (11-12) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in May.
Parc Des Princes (USA) 11-1 (10-10) Led, headed before 5 out, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Enchanted Garden (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Los Nadis (GER) 17-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, pushed along before 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 9, 21l behind Hold Em Cowboy (11-12) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in May.
Five Rivers (IRE) 28-1 (10-6) Held up in outside, not fluent 4th, hanging left from before 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 7, 38l behind Keeneland (11-12) at Kelso 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Sir Tantallus Hawk 40-1 (9-13) Held up in last, pushed along after 4th, plugged on from 2 out, never in contention, 6th of 10, 21l behind It's A Mans World (10-5) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Apr.
Another Dimension (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Mid-division, brought down 5th, in a race won by Indepub (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in May, 12 ran.