in touch, weakened quickly approaching 13th, behind when pulled up before next
in touch, fell 5th
held up towards winner, headway 13th, led last, ridden out
tracked leader, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, pushed along 14th, out pace 4 out
towards rear, badly hampered, unseated rider 5th
led, headed last, weakened run-in
in touch, pushed along 13th, outpaced 3 out, kept on one pace from after next
towards rear, stumbled, unseated rider after 12th
towards rear, never dangerous
prominent to 12th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
Miss Royello was in good from when last seen in December 2004 but lack of a recent run has to be of concern so he is probably best watched and preference is for Bafana Boy, who gets the vote ahead of Frankie Dori. The last mentioned has run well on his last two trips across the Irish Sea and has to be respected but he may prefer a softer surface. Middleway held on well when getting the better of Place Above over course and distance last time but a 7lb rise for that success looks harsh, while Uneven Line could probably do with a softer surface to show his best form. Aston has claims on the form shown behind the selection at Hexham in April but he has failed to reproduce the same level of form in two starts since then while Bafana Boy has since won at Perth. The Nicky Richards-trained gelding is clearly progressive and is taken to win again.
Miss Royello 11-4 (11-6) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 2 out, ridden clear approaching last, comfortably, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (F) sft in Dec '04 beating Place Above (11-8) by 23l, 13 ran.
Frankie Dori (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, no extra run-in, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Skenfrith (10-0) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Mar.
Bafana Boy 5-1 (11-2) Held up, smooth headway 14th, led before 2 out, mistake last, hung left under pressure flat, held on, won at Perth 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in May beating Toran Road (10-9) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Midnight Gunner 13-2 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 11th, ridden when hampered 14th, weakened after 2 out, 5th and no chance when pulled up at the last in race won by Elvis Returns (11-3) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in May, 15 ran.
Aston (USA) 4-1 (11-4) Held up, headway when mistake 5 out, ridden and kept on from next, no impression, 3rd of 8, 30l behind Dumadic (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
Uneven Line 6-1 (10-1) Led, headed before 2 out, ridden, kept on approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Barney (9-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in May.
Chancers Dante (IRE) 9-1 (10-2) In touch, weakened 7th, behind when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Trovaio (10-0) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in May, 12 ran.
Middleway 17-2 (9-12) Always prominent, ridden 3 out, soon went 2nd, led approaching last, veered badly right flat, hard ridden and held on close home, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf in Apr beating Place Above (11-10) by a hd, 14 ran.
