held up in touch, effort 3 out, outpaced next, soon no impression
chased leaders, every chance 3 out, ridden and weakened from next
prominent, lost place 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, smooth headway on outside after 3 out, led after next, pushed out
keen early, led, headed 2 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
mid-division, reminders 3rd, weakened 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
raced keenly, in touch, headway 3 out, led briefly next, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure flat
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A tough race to call here for punters with very little between many of the leading lights but the principals look to be The Royal Dub, Talarive and Bodfari Signet and the nomination is given to The Royal Dub. The selection hails from a shrewd Irish yard. Looks well weighted on his best form and with the booking of Tony Dobbin catching the eye he will be hard to beat under his optimum conditions. Talarive rates the main danger as he won well last time out when beating Gaelic Roulette, however he has a penalty for that win and this looks more competitive and at likely odds he looks worth taking on. Bodfari Signet is another that could go well as he has dropped to a handy mark and his yard are in form but he has shown little enthusiasm of late so can not be put forward with any confidence. Robert The Bruce was a fair third last time behind Acceleration and could improve for this longer trip while Assumetheposition is another on a lenient mark but is hard to win with and in a race where the market will be very informative for the winner we return to The Royal Dub.
Robert The Bruce 11-1 (11-6) In touch, headway 3 out, every chance flat, kept on, 3rd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Acceleration (10-3) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Apr.
Emperor's Monarch 33-1 (10-10) Chased leader, lost place 3rd, soon behind, 7th of 11, 17l behind Bollin Thomas (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Noble House 9-2 (11-9) Made all, jumped left 1st, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Perth 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gf in Aug beating Lion Guest (11-1) by 5l, 10 ran.
The Royal Dub (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Towards rear until fell in race won by Lady Kate Ellen (11-4) at Thurles 3m beg chs gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Assumetheposition (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Always behind, struggling from 6th, tailed off from next, 8th of 11, 29l behind Westmeath Flyer (11-7) at Southwell 2m 5f sll hdl (5) gf.
Talarive (USA) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, led after 3 out, clear next, ridden out, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr beating Gaelic Roulette (11-4) by 2l, 13 ran.
Bodfari Signet 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, last place 8th, no danger after, 10th of 18, 36l behind Burren Moonshine (10-11) at Perth 3m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Sono 9-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, pushed along 3 out, ridden and one pace from next, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Political Sox (11-2) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gf in Jun '04.
