led to 2nd, remained in touch, led 4th to 9th, led again 12th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon outpaced, 4th and no extra when blundered and unseated rider last
behind, headway into mid-division 7th, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and outpaced next, left moderate 4th last
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 10th, soon behind
mid-division, headway 11th, challenged 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, left clear 3rd, no impression last
raced wide, behind, reminders 7th, lost touch and pulled up before 9th
mid-division on inside, reminders 8th, weakened 4 out
held up, ridden 4 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, headway 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, kept on until headed, one pace flat
behind, struggling 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
in touch, led 2nd, headed 4th, led again 9th to 12th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway 3 out, strong run between last 2, went 2nd last, ran on to lead flat, soon clear
in touch, driven and lost place 9th, no danger after
Nonrunner
A wide open finale, and something of a pin-stickers' affair, but a tentative selection is UPTOWN LAD ahead of Fred Bojangals and Persian Prince. Robert Johnson's having a decent season, partly due to Uptown Lad, who races here under a penalty after winning last time out at Hexham. Taking the headgear off worked then and it stays off; he had plenty in hand at the weights then as well, and the run represented a big improvement. Support in the market would encourage us that that wasn't a one-off. Fred Bojangals and Persian Prince are top weights; the former won a better race here last year from out of the handicap, and has had just a couple of runs this year, the more recent of which saw him narrowly beaten. Persian Prince has yet to win under rules in 14 attempts, but has tasted regular success in points. If everything fell right for him, he could land the spoils, but in a trappy contest with plenty of chances, our preference is for Uptown Lad.
Persian Prince (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 4th of 7, 12l behind Bob Hall (12-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f hts chs (6) gf in May.
Dix Huit Cyborg (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 4 out, 5th and one pace when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Take The Stand (12-6) at Hexham 2m 4f hts chs (6) gf, 14 ran.
Nobel (FR) 33-1 (11-1) Close up on outside, lost place 11th, behind when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Woody Valentine (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May, 11 ran.
Lady Roania (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, blundered 1st, headway 13th, soon weakened, 7th of 15, well behind Its Teescomponents (10-9) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in May.
Mystic Glen 18-1 (10-0) Always behind, 7th of 10, 39l behind Watch My Back (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Red Dawn (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) Mid-division, lost place approaching 4 out, soon weakened, last of 15, well behind Super Baby (11-4) at Catterick 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Mighty Fella 33-1 (10-10) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on one pace from last, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Mr Midaz (11-1) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in May.
Big Bone (FR) 18-1 (10-1) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, never dangerous, 8th of 13, well behind Sam Cruise (10-3) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
Silvo (NZ) 14-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 9, 50l behind It's Bertie (11-11) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in May.
Perly Spencer (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Nelliedonethat (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
Uptown Lad (IRE) 40-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, led last, stayed on strongly, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd beating Paperchaser (10-0) by 5l, 14 ran.
Now Then Sid 40-1 (10-0) Prominent, lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Follow On (9-11) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May, 7 ran.
Fred Bojangals (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway halfway, every chance running, no extra close home, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Trafalgar Man (10-9) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Cedar Rapids (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Led, headed before 4 out, soon lost place, behind when hampered next, 8th of 12, 43l behind Toulouse Express (10-5) at Southwell 2m 1f stks (5) gd in Apr.
