chased leaders, not fluent 9th, went third before 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on same pace flat
held up towards rear, headway after 13th, shaken up and went second after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ran on but no match for winner
led 2nd, hit 7th, not fluent 10th, headed 12th, dropped to rear after 3 out, soon beaten
in rear and struggling when pulled up before 8th
led, headed 2nd and chased clear leader, regained lead 12th, pushed along after 2 out, ridden and kept on well run-in
outpaced early, in touch, not fluent 3rd, in contention when fell 2 out
NonRunner
Onenightintown won over course and distance just over a year ago off a similar mark. Fakir is only 1-14 over fences but is eased in grade on his reappearance. Follow Your Arrow was also pulled up when last seen but that run should have put an edge on George Bewley’s charge, who placed off higher marks at Hexham and Cartmel in the spring. TOM CREEN won twice here last season but still looks to be on a decent mark with Tom Midgley’s 3lb claim a plus in a race like this.
Present Fair (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Led until 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 14, dist behind Ed Keeper (11-7) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Mar.
Fakir (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Prominent, mistake 4th, ridden and dropped away tamely 3 out, pulled up, at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Apr.
Balkalin (FR) 22-1 (11-12) Soon pressed leader, led 3rd, headed 2 out, soon ridden and gradually faded, 5th of 13, 14 1/4l behind Escobedo (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Oct.
Follow Your Arrow (FR) 4-1 (11-11) Held up, mistake 8th, pushed along after 9th, soon struggling, tailed off before pulled up 3 out, at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Tom Creen (IRE) 10-3 (10-13) Prominent, pushed along and no impression on leader 2 out, ridden run-in, always held, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Master Malcolm (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Apr.
Clondaw Pretender 9-2 (11-3) Mid-division, not fluent 6th, headway 8th, ridden 3 out, 4th and held from last, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 7 1/4l behind Lough Salt (10-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp (5) gd in Feb.
Onenightintown (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Mid-division, jumped left 4 out, pushed along before next, soon lost position, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Mystic Man (11-3) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Sep.