tracked leaders, headway 5th, disputed lead 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, headway 5th, led before 3 out, clear after next comfortably
held up in rear, lost touch 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before last
raced keenly, led and clear, hit 2nd and 3rd, headed 5th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
tracked clear leader, headway to lead 5th, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, kept on same pace
held up and always towards rear
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
behind, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms
Escompteur can land the opener at the expense of Andre Chenier, Napolitain and Killing Me Softly. Martin Pipe is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to secure the trainer's title, and he should pinch a few more quid with Escompteur who gained a confidence-boosting win at Exeter last month. Prior to that he had been highly tried at both Newbury and Sandown, so today's opposition will hold no fears. He will be hard to pass if allowed to bowl along in the lead, and can follow up before eventually being sent over fences. Andre Chenier has done nothing wrong of late, gaining back-to-back successes at Kelso, proving that he has responded to a gelding operation. The only negative is that he, like Escompteur, is owned by David Johnson, so we can assume that he is very much the second string. Napolitain is another that has been keeping hot company, and although well behind Mighty Man at Aintree, Paul Nicholls' charge should not be underestimated. Killing Me Softly was down to run on Wednesday's card but if turning out, might not prove up to filling a place anyway, while the Irish challenger Tuscany Boy should be noted in the market. Despite his tendency to jump to the left, we still make Escompteur the one to beat.
Escompteur (FR) 2-1 Jumped left throughout, made all, clear 2 out, readily, won at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (E) hvy in Mar beating Charlton Kings by 4l, 10 ran.
Napolitain (FR) 25-1 Led, soon clear, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened from next, 3rd of 7, 24l behind Mighty Man at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gd.
Fathom 6-1 Pulled hard in rear, headway approaching 7th, every chance when went lame and pulled up at the last in race won by Idlewild at Uttoxeter 2m nov sll hdl (G) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
Roy McAvoy (IRE) 40-1 Behind, weakened halfway, tailed off when fell 2 out in race won by Blue Morning at Kelso 2m nov sll hdl (G) hvy in Oct, 15 ran.
Show No Fear 12-1 Tracked leaders, led 5th, headed next, ridden approaching 3 out, jumped left when weakening last, 4th of 6, 17l behind Karelian at Ayr 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gd in Mar.
Summer Special 9-2 Chased leaders, ridden 2 out, chased winner run-in, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Fair Spin at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Mar.
Tuscany Boy (IRE) 25-1 Mid-division, no impression after 4 out, 9th of 16, 21l behind Run Katie Chimes at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl gs in Nov.
Venturemore 25-1 Always behind, outpaced 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Dark Ben at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Mar.
Calamitycharacter 100-1 Behind, some headway 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 18, 28l behind Portavadie at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (E) gs.
Andre Chenier (IRE) 7-4fav In touch, headway 4 out, led after last, stayed on strongly, won at Kelso 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) sft beating Aston Lad by 6l, 12 ran.
Killing Me Softly 9-4fav Led 2nd, headed 4th, led approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out, driven and all out, won at Huntingdon 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Mar beating Son of Greek Myth by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Duke Orsino (IRE) 25-1 Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, chased winner after last, no extra flat, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Emperor's Monarch at Ayr 2m nh mdn hdl (F) gs in Mar.
