took keen hold, held up towards rear, not clear run over 2f out, never involved
led, headed over 3f out, ridden to lead again over 2f out, headed 1f out, stayed on, held close home
tracked leaders, effort to lead 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, stayed on well, holding 2nd close home
prominent, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, not much room and lost place over 1f out
held up in mid-division, ridden 2f out, effort over 1f out, not trouble leaders, kept on
prominent early, tracked leaders, pushed along on outside over 3f out, lost place over 2f out, well behind over 1f out
towards rear on outside, headway on outside over 3f out, edged right over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
took keen hold, tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
a little slow into stride, in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
This looks a competitive handicap for the grade. De Bruyne improved on Tapeta after making his debut here last September. Desperate Hero’s run at Nottingham should have blown away a few cobwebs but we’ll take a chance on the fitness of FLYING SPIRIT, who was making giant strides on the all-weather at the end of last year and is unexposed on this surface. Snuggle has placed in all three starts this year but Grenham Bay looks the danger as he beat a subsequent winner at Kempton and Oisin Murphy keeps the partnership intact.
De Bruyne 15-8 (9-7) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on gamely, won at Newcastle 6f stks (5) pol in Dec beating Macho Mania (9-5) by nk, 9 ran.
Desperate Hero 15-2 (9-6) Held up, headway near side rail and hung left from over 1f out, plugged on inside final furlong, not pace to threaten, 5th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Fix You (9-6) at Nottingham 5f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Snuggle 4-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed close home, 3rd of 9, hd behind Indian Falcon (9-4) at Pontefract 6f stks (5) sft in Apr.
Grenham Bay (IRE) 2-1fav (9-5) Held up in mid-division, headway on inside over 2f out, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, ran on under pressure inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at Kempton 6f stks (4) pol in Apr beating Fix You (9-7) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Skallywag Bay 8-1 (9-2) Made all, pushed along 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, won at Kempton 6f stks (5) pol in Sep beating El Oro (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Optiva Star (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Keen prominent, bridle went through horses mouth and hung badly left bend into straight, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 19 3/4l behind Alpha Crucis (9-6) at Windsor 1m hcp (5) sft in Apr.
Flying Spirit 13-8fav (9-9) Prominent, took keen hold, led over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed last stride, 2nd of 8, shd behind Mister X (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f (5) pol in Dec.
Big R (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Led, pushed along when challenged over 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Revenite (9-11) at Kempton 6f stks (5) pol in Sep.
Musical Tribute 11-1 (8-10) Prominent, ridden 2f out, unable to quicken over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Sceptic (9-1) at Lingfield 7f mdn stks (3) pol in Mar.
Spirit Of Breeze (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Took keen hold, prominent, shaken up over 3f out, kept on one paced inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 7 1/2l behind Wallop (9-4) at Kempton 6f stks (5) pol in Apr.
