held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, close 3rd when not fluent 2 out, one pace in 3rd when hit last, soon weakened
held up in touch, chased approaching 3 out, every chance approaching last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, kept on to chase wnner after last, held towards finish
tracked leader, pushed along approaching 7th, soon weakened
made all, quickened pace approaching 3 out, under pressure approaching last, kept on gamely and held on well towards finish
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 7th
Nonrunner
COMPTON STAR is given the vote here ahead of Magic Merlin and Royal Prodigy. Ron Hodges' gelding is dropped in grade today, having bumped into the good thing Hiddensee last time out. In the circumstances he ran quite well and this looks an easier opportunity this afternoon. Global Strategy is now down to a decent mark and is not to be ignored, Send For Tim's record is poor and makes him impossible to fancy, whilst Magic Merlin is of more interest now dropped in class and he won when last contesting a selling race. Esteem tries the cheek-pieces in a bid to get back to form but has a higher mark over hurdles than over fences recently, whilst Gamedor needs a market check on this drop in grade. Royal Prodigy's recent second to Tiger O'Toole is the best bit of recent form in the race and he is considered if turned out after a third place yesterday, however preference in a weak race is for Compton Star.
Gamedor (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, hit 5th, steady headway before 3 out, no impression when blundered and weakened 2 out, 8th of 13, 28l behind French Leave (11-3) at Exeter 2m 1f am hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
Esteem 25-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Overlaw (10-8) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft, 17 ran.
Magic Merlin 50-1 (10-4) In rear, headway approaching 7th, every chance 3 out, weakened last, 5th of 15, 14l behind Another Miracle (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Feb.
Compton Star 10-1 (10-1) Mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, left modest 3rd last, no impression when weakened into 4th near finish, 4th of 10, 17l behind Hiddensee (9-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Global Strategy 22-1 (10-3) Raced wide, close up, chased winner 3rd, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 13, 41l behind French Leave (11-3) at Exeter 2m 1f am hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
Send For Tim (IRE) 100-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, tailed off and pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Command Marshal (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f cond nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Oct, 14 ran.
Royal Prodigy (USA) 12-1 (9-11) Tracked leader until 4th, led 2 out, headed and no exta flat, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Tiger O'toole (11-11) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
