in rear, not fluent 1st, went 3rd from 4th, fell 7th
held up behind, not fluent 1st and rider lost iron, went 3rd from 8th, one pace from 3 out, no impression
led and keen, soon clear, headed 3 out, ridden before last, one pace
tracked leader, mistake 9th, led 3 out, kept on well from next
tracked leaders, lost place from 8th, weakened from 11th
mid-division, in 4th when badly hampered and unseated rider 7th
Persian Prince won over C&D just under a year ago but races off a much higher mark now and has something to prove having been pulled up on his latest start at Hexham. Manoubi is well treated nowadays but is an infrequent winner, while Justwhateverulike may find this on the sharp side after three months off. Great Ocean Road and Liz's Dream have been absent even longer and Conflictofinterest has been well beaten in all three runs this year so the vote goes to PONCHATRAIN, whose third at Wetherby was in a better race than this.
Liz's Dream 22-1 (10-10) Always behind, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Corso Palladio (11-0) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct, 17 ran.
Justwhateverulike (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) In rear, headway from 10th, pushed along and chased winner from 4 out, weakened before last, 4th of 8, 15l behind Lampion Du Bost (11-4) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Persian Prince (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led 4th until next, led 7th until 9th, lost place and 6th 11th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Harry Flashman (11-6) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
PonchaTrain (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Took keen hold, chased leaders, mistake and lost place 8th, rallied to 3rd after 12th, not fluent 4 out, soon ridden, lost modest 3rd before last, rallied to snatch 3rd again last strides, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Border Reiver (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Apr.
Manoubi 16-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before last, 7th of 17, 32l behind Nicky Tam (10-13) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Apr.
Conflictofinterest 11-1 (11-1) In rear, mistake first, closed on main group 9th, jumped badley left 14th, effort next, weakening when mistake 3 out, 4th of 6, 38l behind Nicky Tam (10-10) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Apr.
Great Ocean Road (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) In touch in rear, ridden and every chance when hit 3 out, chased winner last, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Nautical Approach (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
