held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 8th, 4th and beaten 2 out
held up in touch, not fluent 5th, challenged 2 out, soon led, clear last, stayed on well
with leader, led 3rd until 6th, led 8th, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace
took keen hold, led until 3rd, led 6th until 8th, led 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, not fluent 9th, weakened approaching 2 out, eased, tailed off
In a classy contest, Possol is taken to take this after a fine run in a top Aintree contest last time, with Soft Spoken Guy and Carsonstown Boy the others to note. Carsonstown Boy ran his best race for some time when chasing home a well handicapped type at Aintree. That was his best run for some time, but he may struggle on these terms with the selection. Soft Spoken Guy has run a series of solid races this season, and may well be better than his current handicap mark. He seems to have a stiff task at the weights though in this contest though, despite a decisive win at Kelso recently. Possol ran a blinder to finish a close third behind Big Bucks at Aintree and he was not running well out of turn having been fifth at Cheltenham in a novice contest. The drying ground will help, and his front running tactics should enable Possol to make the most of the terms of this race.
Carsonstown Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden approaching and hit last, kept on to go 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner, 2nd of 21, 6l behind Ringaroses (11-0) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd.
Meath All Star (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Behind, mistake 4th, never dangerous, 11th of 24, 21l behind Pause And Clause (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Possol (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, led narrowly 2nd, not fluent 6th, hit and headed 8th, remained close up, led again approaching 3 out, headed approaching last, ridden and no extra when lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Big Buck's (11-7) at Aintree 3m hdl G1 (1) gd.
Soft Spoken Guy (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Tracked leader, disputed lead from 3rd, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Caerlaverock (11-8) by 7l, 14 ran.
The Knoxs (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) With leader, hit 4 out, soon lost place, weakened from next, 13th of 17, well behind Peddlers Cross (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
