prominent in chasing group, left in lead 5th, stayed on strongly from 2 out
towards rear, headway to chase winner 3 out, effort 2 out, no impression run-in
in touch to halfway, soon behind
held up in rear, headway 3 out, effort approaching next, no extra approaching last
led, soon clear, 18 lengths up when stumbled, fell after 5th
held up, headway when left 2nd 5th, mistake 3 out, soon no extra
mid-division, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
prominent in chasing group until outpaced approaching 3 out
Recent Stratford winner Lord Baskerville is bound to be popular in his attempt to follow up but a 7lb penalty for that success and today's faster ground may just be enough to stop him from doing so and preference is for Archirondel, with The Baillie rated the best of the remainder. The selection made an encouraging return to hurdling when chasing home Dalkeys Lad at Cartmel last month and a reproduction of that effort may well suffice amongst some moderate looking company. Lion's Domane is of no great shakes on the level and has given little cause for optimism over hurdles of late, while Ro Eridani needs to improve on all known evidence to take a hand. The Baillie is less exposed than most of these and could be open to further improvement but Archirondel has solid claims and he gets the vote.
Lord Baskerville 9-2 (10-9) Held up and keen, pulled way through to track leader after 3rd, hit 6th, led 3 out, ridden clear, mistake last, driven out, won at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in May beating Changing Gear (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Archirondel 11-4fav (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 2 out, left in lead after last, headed towards finish, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Dalkeys Lad (10-9) at Cartmel 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in May.
Compton Earl 33-1 (11-5) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Contact Dancer (11-5) at Down Royal 2m mdn hdl gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Flying High (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Always behind, last of 7, well behind Kinburn (11-7) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gd in Oct '04.
Galley Law 11-2 (8-12) Held up in rear, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 7, 11l behind Shrine Mountain (9-6) at Southwell 1m stk (7) fbs in May (Flat).
Lion's Domane 100-1 (11-2) Behind, effort 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 15, well behind Glingerbank (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in May.
The Baillie (IRE) 6-4fav (12-5) Held up in tch; ev ch 4 out; wknd nxt; pulled up in race won by Thenford Sir (11-12) at Hexham 2m 4f ptp gd in May, 8 ran.
Ro Eridani 80-1 (9-12) Always towards rear, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind San Peire (11-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
