with leader early, chased leaders, weakened from after 4 out, left poor 3rd last
in rear, pushed along 6th, struggling approaching 9th, tailed off
tracked leaders, soon chased winner, blundered 2 out, in 3rd and one pace when left 2nd last, no chance with winner
held up mid-division, headway 10th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, about 10 lengths down in 2nd and staying on when fell last
held up towards rear, headway on outer approaching 10th, weakened 4 out
held up behind, blundered and unseated rider 11th
made all, clear after 2 out, easily
held up mid-division, pushed along 5th, reminders after 8th, soon weakened
chased leaders, in 3rd when fell 12th
I'M YOUR MAN may be the solid option in a race where quite a few of the field have questions to answer. Star Tenor has more obvious claims than most and should go well with Letham Island one to note in the market. Sandra Forster's Star Tenor battled on gamely to get the better of Chicago Alley at Bangor last time - where Winged Farasi was back in third - and lines up bidding to defy a 4lb rise in the weights. That was only his third start over fences so it's reasonable to expect further improvement and the runner-up has win since to frank the form whilst the faster underfoot conditions are of no concern. Letham Island has shown little in three starts over fences but can't be dismissed with confidence, particularly if the market speaks in his favour whilst High Stand Lad is pitched into handicap company for just his second chase start and the booking of Denis O'Regan takes the eye. Ginger's Lad enters calculations on the back of a fair run last time but preference is for Evelyn Slack's experienced grey. He hasn't been in top form of late but has won over course and distance and is feasibly treated at present so it would be no surprise to see I'm Your Man return to his best in this company.
High Stand Lad 12-1 (11-2) Led to 1st, tracked winner, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, tailed off, in a race won by Danish Rebel (10-12) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp 0-115 (4) sft in Apr, 11 ran.
Letham Island (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Raced wide, held up, headway 3rd, chased winner after 3 out, 6 lenghts down 2 out, ran on flat, not quite reached winner, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Sawpit Supreme (10-9) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Apr.
I'm Your Man 7-1 (10-11) Led to 4th, remained in touch, challenged when pecked 11th, lost place after 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, 5th of 15, 17l behind Baltic Pathfinder (11-6) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Winged Farasi 11-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden in 3rd and outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on on approaching last, no impression, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Star Tenor (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Apr.
Star Tenor (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 7th, led next, kept on well from last, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Apr beating Chicago Alley (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Solway Blue 6-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, hampered 5th, headway when hampered 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Red Not Blue (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Persian Prince (IRE) 7-1 (9-12) Led to before 4 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 6, 28l behind Nothingbutthetruth (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Naval Attache 11-1 (10-8) Pulled hard, mid-division, hampered 9th, jumped slowly 11th, soon beaten, 4th of 11, 11l behind Hever Road (10-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Ginger's Lad 11-2 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway after 5 out, a close 3rd when left 2nd 4 out, kept on same pace, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Nothingbutthetruth (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
