held up towards rear, pushed along before 7th, weakened after 3 out
rear of mid-division on outside, lost place before 5th, soon last and getting behind, pulled up before 3 out
jumped right, led, ridden 2 out, headed before not fluent last, carried left and held towards finish
held up rear of mid-division, headway after 3 out, went close 2nd from 2 out, led before last, edged left and stayed on well towards finish
chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 2 out
chased leaders on inside, ridden and beaten 2 out, 3rd and well held last
in rear, ridden and well beaten after 3 out
chased leader until before 2 out, 4th and well held last
NonRunner
NonRunner
Calliope ended a long losing run at Perth two weeks ago but has been raised 7lb. Hajey completed a course and distance double at the start of the year and beat JOIE DE VIVRE (NAP) in the second of those races. But the latter is now better off at the weights and won this last year. Martin Todhunter’s mare has also been in good form on the Flat so can complete back-to-back victories. Luckofthedraw, like Baron De Midleton and Roxboro Road, is best over fences and might need this so Pateen looks the pick of the remainder.
Baron De Midleton (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Held up in last pair, hit 9th, headway 11th, went 3rd after 3 out, ridden before next, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 10 1/2l behind Lakota Warrior (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Roxboro Road (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Midfield, not fluent 6th, nudged along and outpaced briefly before 2 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last, eased after last, last of 8, dist behind Aptly Put (10-10) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Hajey 9-2 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed narrowly before 2 out, led again before last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Twoshotsoftequila (11-12) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
I Am Spider Man (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Towards rear, not fluent 1st, detached in 14th from halfway and soon no extra, 13th of 15, dist behind Trishknowsbest (11-9) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
Pateen (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) In touch in mid-division, took keen hold, pushed along after 3 out, lost place 2 out, plugged on, 5th of 8, 10 3/4l behind Nayati (12-2) at Perth 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Cash Again (FR) 5-1 (10-7) Always last, well behind 3 out, pulled up before last, at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Heritier De Sivola (FR) 18-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, dropped to rear 4 out, pushed along after 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 15 1/4l behind Head Law (12-5) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Calliope 11-4fav (10-12) Led until 6th, led after next, clear from 2 out, comfortably, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Sep beating Lough Carra (11-8) by 7 1/2l, 11 ran.
Luckofthedraw (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Led until hit 3rd and headed, chased winner, pushed along before 4 out, lost 2nd 4 out, weakened into remote 4th at the last, 4th of 6, 27l behind Bourbali (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Joie De Vivre (IRE) 7-1 (9-12) Slowly into stride and held up off the pace in rear, shaken up going best 3f out, soon good headway and every chance, led over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, won at Thirsk 1m 6f hcp (5) sft in Sep beating Gift Of Raaj (10-2) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
