tracked leaders, headway 3 out, led approaching next, ridden and headed after last, rallied flat, just held
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened from next
chased leaders until ridden and lost place 3rd, behind when pulled up after 5th
in rear, lost touch 4th, tailed off from 7th
always behind, tailed off from 7th
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
chased leaders to 3 out, weakened next
led, headed approaching 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next
towards rear, struggling 6th, never dangerous
tracked leader, headway to lead approaching 3 out, headed before next, soon one pace
mid-division, headway 3 out, went 2nd next, ridden and stayed on to lead after last, held on
behind, tailed off from 7th, pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders, ridden and effort after 3 out, no impression approaching last
never better than mid-division
Nonrunner
This tricky opener could fall to Sir Rowland Hill, with Grand Slam Hero and Newbay Lady also expected to be involved in the finish. The selection looks to be coming back to his best and finished an excellent thrd behind today's rival Newbay Lady at Wetherby last time. He was backed to win that contest going off 13/8 favourite but in the end was beaten five lengths. With improvement likely and a nice weight pull he should reverse the form with Sue Smith's runner. Grand Slam Hero hit winning form last time, comfortably beating Sea Map at Worcester. He does have to concede seven pounds to the selection and so may struggle to win, but he should still be in the shake up. Of the others James Bay is from a top yard and is open to improvement, however we return Sir Rowland Hill as our idea of the winner.
Grand Slam Hero (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Chased leaders, slightly hampered and left in lead 3 out, ridden clear and hung left last, ran on, won at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf beating Sea Map (10-12) by 11l, 10 ran.
Guerilla (AUS) Evensfav (11-0) Held up, ridden and headway after 2 out, weakened and eased last, 7th of 10, 30l behind My True Romance (9-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in May.
James Bay (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) Not fluent, in rear, headway 3 out, one pace from next, 6th of 15, 22l behind Glingerbank (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in May.
Newbay Lady 7-4 (10-7) Raced keenly in mid-division, headway to lead before 3rd, made rest, ridden and kept on well from 2 out, won at Wetherby 3m 1f nh mdn hdl (4) gf beating Risky Rhythm (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Possextown (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Led, headed approaching 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Ostfanni (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (3) gd in May, 7 ran.
Sir Rowland Hill (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) Held up, headway to chase winner 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace approaching last, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Newbay Lady (10-7) at Wetherby 3m 1f nh mdn hdl (4) gf.
Countrywide Sun 10-1 (10-0) Behind when blundered and unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Random Native (11-1) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May, 12 ran.
Adolphus (IRE) 7-2 (12-5) A.p; led 15 til hdd nr fin, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Themanfromcarlisle (12-5) at Mosshouses 3m ptp gd in May.
