tracked leaders, weakened before 5th, tailed off
always towards rear
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, joined leader 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, led before 2 out, pressed run-in, just held on
always towards rear
mid-division, headway 3 out, went 5th from 2 out, no impression
led, pushed along before 5th, headed before 2 out, every chance run-in, kept on and lost 2nd place close home
tracked leader, weakened from 4 out
towards rear, ridden 3 out, headway to go 4th 2 out, stayed on well after last, went 2nd close home, just held
Astaroland has been knocking on the door and is weighted to reverse last month's course and distance running with the hat-trick seeking Discoverie. Hi Dancer showed he was no back number here last May but makes a belated reappearance off a 17lb higher mark and faces a tough task. Grand Vintage also returns from a lengthy absence while River Bollin was still beaten 25 lengths when second at Wetherby last month. LIGHT THE CITY (NAP) can't go much lower in the weights and has probably been running a bit better than recent form figures suggest. He'll go close if anywhere near his best today.
Hi Dancer 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, led from 1st, pushed along before 2 out, soon clear, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in May beating Ivans Back (10-11) by 20l, 8 ran.
River Bollin 14-1 (10-12) Soon tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 7th, hit 5 out, went 2nd before 3 out, no chance with winner, blundered last, 2nd of 4, 25l behind Kylemore Lough (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Light The City (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 9, 11l behind Emral Silk (11-8) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Astaroland (FR) 11-8fav (11-5) Held up in 4th, close up 4th, went 2nd 2 out (usual 3 out), 3 lengths down last (usual 2 out), ridden and kept on approaching omitted last, always held, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Discoverie (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Jabus (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Always behind, lost place from 4 out and pulled up, in a race won by Claude Carter (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Jan, 10 ran.
Grand Vintage (IRE) 13-2 (10-2) Held up in touch in rear, outpaced 6th, stayed on from after 2 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Pair Of Jacks (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Tourtiere 25-1 (11-9) Held up in 3rd, close up 4th, lost place after 2 out (usual 3 out), soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last (usual 2 out), in a race won by Discoverie (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan, 6 ran.
Discoverie 6-4 (10-6) Made all, 3 lengths clear last (usual 2 out), ridden approaching omitted last, stayed on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan beating Astaroland (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Copt Hill 5-1 (11-1) Led, clear until 3rd, headed after 3 out, no impression before last, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 11, 12l behind Deny (10-3) at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Fiddler's Flight (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, struggling before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Ergo Sum (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
