mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, went 3rd before last, kept on same pace
chased leaders, every chance 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, headway before 3 out, in 5th from last, one pace
tracked leader, led before 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden before 2 out, never dangerous
held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 4 out, pulled up
led, headed before 2 out, ridden before last, soon weakened
towards rear, pushed along after 5th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up
behind, struggling before 5th, soon pushed along
mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, quickly pulled up after 3rd
behind, headway before 3 out, led before last, ridden run-in, kept on well
always towards rear, weakened after 3 out
Nigel Twiston-Davies has won this twice in the last four years and his Colin's Brother would probably have been placed at Warwick last month had he not fallen at the last. Gordon Elliott does well here so Downpatrick third Antilope Du Seuil has to go on the short-list but we just prefer DANCING SHADOW. Victor Dartnall's charge ran his best race so far when just touched off in a Wincanton handicap at the start of the month and can go one better. Admiral Miller has scope and Ayr second Gold Opera is preferred to Down Royal third and fourth, Baby Bach and Areema, of the others.
Admiral Miller 10-1 (10-9) Held up in 6th, pushed along before 3 out, soon one pace, weakened before 2 out, well beaten when blundered last, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Sugar Baron (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Areema (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 11th early, one pace from after 2 out, 4th of 20, 17l behind Delvin Road (10-11) at Down Royal 2m mdn hdl in Mar.
Baby Bach (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 7th early, slight mistake 3rd, not fluent 6th, one pace from after 2 out, 3rd of 20, 15l behind Delvin Road (10-11) at Down Royal 2m mdn hdl in Mar.
Colin's Brother 5-2 (11-1) Tracked leader, mistake 7th, ridden after 3 out, no impression on winner when not fluent 2 out, in danger of being pressed for 2nd when fell last, in a race won by King's Odyssey (11-1) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Mar, 7 ran.
Dancing Shadow (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, challenging when not fluent 2 out, still pressing winner flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Jimmy The Jetplane (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Gold Opera (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Close up, led 7th, headed before 3 out, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 11l behind Mossies Well (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Mar.
Itchymei'mscratch (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, led when not fluent 5th and again next, driven when carried head awkwardly approaching 3 out, ridden and headed before next, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 20l behind Looking Well (11-1) at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Oscar Dallas (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 2nd or 6th, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 10, 47l behind Three Faces West (11-4) at Ayr 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Quest Magic (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Slowly away, always in rear, weakened 4 out, last of 11, well behind Tiger O'Toole (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Solway Trigger 50-1 (10-6) With leader, pushed along over 5f out, lost place over 4f out, 12th of 13, well behind Western Rules (11-2) at Newcastle 2m NH flat (6) sft in Nov.
The Bishop (IRE) 66-1 (10-10) Mid-division, lost place 4 out, soon behind, 10th of 13, 26l behind Looking Well (11-1) at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Throthethatch (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 7th of 12, 29l behind Mossies Well (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Mar.
Welcome Ben (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Led, headed 6f out, lost place and weakened quickly over 3f out, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Kara Tara (10-11) at Hexham 2m NH flat (6) gs in Mar.
Desert Island Dusk 100-1 (10-2) Behind, headway when mistake 3 out, never on terms, 5th of 9, 26l behind Apachee Prince (10-13) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Antilope Du Seuil (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Slowly into stride and pushed along in rear, no impression in 8th when slight mistake 4 out, ridden and progress in 4th 2 out, 3rd before last, no impression run-in and kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Autumn Shades (10-13) at Downpatrick 2m 2f mdn hdl in Mar.
Legacy Phoenix (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden in moderate 9th 3 out, no impression, 9th of 18, well behind All You Need (11-2) at Navan 2m mdn hdl hvy in Mar.
