held up mid-division, headway 2 out, kept on same pace
made all, ridden before and hit 2 out, kept on, driven out
tracked leaders, lost place before 7th
tracked leaders and keen, pushed along and lost place before 7th
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, soon reminders, never dangerous
held up towards rear, pushed along after 6th, soon weakened
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 6th, went 4th before 3 out, weakened next
with leader, ridden after 3 out, every chance next, not fluent last, kept on and held towards finish
held up in rear and keen early, never a factor
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
Pugnacity is 19lb higher than when successful in this 12 months ago but has definitely improved over the last few months and is chasing a hat-trick today after wins at Wetherby and Market Rasen. Dianne Sayer's charge shouldn't be far away but we fancy MARDOOD to follow up a recent course win over this slightly longer trip. Chris Grant's six-year-old travels strongly in his races but doesn't always find a lot when asked. The short run-in here is in his favour, however, and he is probably still on a fair mark. Sundown Trail won on soft ground at Ayr in February but could be vulnerable on this quicker going after a short break.
Hoar Frost 20-1 (10-7) Mid-division, lost place 8th, towards rear after, 16th of 18, well behind Oscar's Ballad (11-2) at Perth 3m am hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Scotswell 40-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear and keen, some headway on outer 7th, weakened from 3 out, 9th of 11, 35l behind Rolecarr (11-6) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Apr.
Pugnacity 9-4fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, ridden to challenge last, hung left and stayed on to lead narrowly flat, just held on, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Apr beating Galley Slave (11-1) by hd, 10 ran.
Mardood 7-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden to lead before last, soon hung right, kept on towards finish, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf beating What's Occurrin (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Smarties Party 20-1 (10-6) Held up, left 4th at 2nd, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Outlaw Tom (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Tears From Heaven (USA) 20-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, blundered 8th, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 18l behind Patriot (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Troys Steps 40-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, led briefly 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 16, 38l behind Can't Remember (10-11) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Jul.
Daraybad (FR) 14-1 (9-10) Always towards rear, 8th of 11, 14l behind Hi Ho Silvia (10-5) at Wetherby 2m hcp hld 0-95 (5) gf in Apr.
Papa Drew (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Mid-division in touch, reminders before 6th, soon chased leaders, went 3rd after 3 out, outpaced next, ridden and weakened between last 2, tailed off, 3rd of 8, well behind Miss Tarantella (10-11) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
Solway Dornal 9-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden before 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 12, 24l behind Some Catch (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Apr.
Why Are You Asking (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, effort 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, well behind Nelson's Chief (11-0) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Sundown Trail (IRE) 5-2fav (11-8) In touch in 4th, chased leaders after 3rd, went 2nd before 7th, pushed along after 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 8, 31l behind Easter Vic (10-9) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Mar.
