tracked leaders, blundered and unseated rider 5th
tracked winner, led 7th to 10th, soon lost place, struggling 12th, no danger after, tailed off
held up, headway and in touch 8th, challenged 3 out to next, weakened approaching last
raced keenly, held up on outside, headway and in touch 10th, chased winner 2 out, 2 lengths down and ridden when hit last, kept on same pace flat, lost 2nd towards finish
tracked leaders, lost place 10th, struggling 12th, no danger after
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 3 out, rallied last, kept on to take 2nd towards finish
led to 7th, with leader, led again 10th, joined 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on under pressure flat
PILCA hasn't always been consistent and hasn't put together back to back wins since his early hurdling days in France, but we think that can change here, with him getting the nod ahead of Toulouse Express and Nile Moon. He defied top weight status to win a novices handicap last time out over this trip, which is what trainer Malcolm Jefferson rates as his optimum distance. He usually travels and jumps well, and a repeat of that last effort which came at Perth could be enough to land this. Oniz Tiptoes may be carrying too much weight considering his modest form. Toulouse Express was pulled up last time out after previously winning an inferior race to this. Again, he's not the most consistent. Nile Moon, joint top weight with Oniz Tiptoes, drops down in trip after running regularly over 3 miles, including when winning twice at Kelso in April. Fourth in the Perth Gold Cup last time out, the tongue tie and blinkers are off today, and he's expected to be ridden prominently as that's brought past success. Our preference though is for Pilca.
Oniz Tiptoes (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Led, headed 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 5th of 11, 21l behind Runaround Sue (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Nile Moon (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Led, headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 15l behind Backstage (10-5) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in May.
Pilca (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Held up, chased leaders 4 out, led next, stayed on well, won at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in May beating He's A Hotshot (10-9) by 3l, 9 ran.
Pamak D'airy (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, ridden 11th, one pace from 2 out, 5th of 15, 8l behind Michigan d'Isop (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in May.
I'm Your Man 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leader outpaced 3 out, no danger after, 7th of 9, 40l behind Trafalgar Man (10-9) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Polar Gale (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway 16th, went 3rd 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 3rd of 13, 16l behind Sam Cruise (10-3) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Prominent to 6th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by I'm Your Man (11-6) at Hexham 2m hcp ch 0-95 (5) gd in May, 12 ran.
