always behind
mid-division, lost place 9th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before last
behind, ridden 3f out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, lost place 3f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden approaching 9th, outpaced 2f out, soon weakened
mid-division on inside, ridden to chase leaders after 3f out, led between last 2, stayed on well flat
prominent, led 10th, ridden and headed before 2f out, soon one pace
led to 10th, outpaced 3f out, soon weakened
mid-division, weakened 3f out, behind when pulled up before next
raced keenly, in touch, outpaced after 3f out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure approaching last, no impression
always prominent, led before 2f out, ridden and headed between last 2, no impression when mistake last
behind, headway under pressure approaching 3f out, ridden and kept on from next, no impression
mid-division, lost place 10th, soon behind, tailed off
behind, ridden 3f out, never on terms
mid-division on outside, lost place ninth, soon behind, pulled up after 2f out
MENELAUS can hand weight and a beating to Choumaker and Doris's Gift. Kevin Morgan's charge has proved a tad disappointing of late but he is a confirmed stayer and with the differential in the weights being fairly shallow; he is not faced with some of the tasks that he has previously found himself saddled with. Choumaker is respected from the David Pipe yard. He continues in the tonguetie and blinkers that have accompanied his recent performances. Doris's Gift bombed badly over chase fences and she looks a much more realistic proposition over the smaller obstacles. Great Grimsby looked a useful sort some time ago but appeared to lose his way. Malcolm Jefferson has had plenty of time to iron out some of those ills. Itzacliche has been a prolific hunter chaser in his time. He gets on well with rider Joey Richards. Compleat Artist has had fewer chances than most. Needle Prick is one to watch closely in the market on his return to action following 594 days off. Rifleman is a thorough rogue who will doubtless threaten to deliver far more than he actually does. Castlemore should have stripped fitter for his reappearance and this afternoon's trip appears to be far more to his liking. Menelaus gets the verdict in the finale.
Menelaus 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway on outside after 4th, driven 6th, weakened before next, 9th of 14, 38l behind Bathwick Man (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
Hail The King (USA) 33-1 (11-9) Behind, pushed after 7th, never a factor, tailed off, 8th of 18, well behind Classic Quart (12-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Jun.
Itzacliche (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, weakened 2 out, 6th of 11, 22l behind Runaround Sue (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Izzykeen 8-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, lost placed when mistake 6th, tailed off 2 out, 10th of 13, well behind Cooksgrove Lady (10-0) at Hexham 2m 4f sell (5) gd in Jun.
Castlemore (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Mid-division until 9th, soon behind, 12th of 16, well behind Dan Ryan (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f stks (5) gd in Jun.
Choumakeur (FR) 8-1 (11-0) In touch, tracked winner approaching 15th, ridden after 3 out, pecked next, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Tank Buster (10-10) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp ch 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.
Doris's Gift 11-1 (10-2) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 5th of 11, 10l behind Oniz Tiptoes (10-9) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
Brideswell Boy (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Mid-division, 7th 5 out, ridden in 8th and no extra 4 out, kept on one pace from next, 7th of 15, 21l behind Tower Of Lloyd (9-7) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-102 gf in Jun.
Compleat Artist (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, hit 6th, headway into 4th approaching last, stayed on flat, went 3rd towards finish, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 15, 12l behind Days Of Pleasure (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 4f 4yo cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
Great Grimsby (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Always behind, pulled up 13th, tailed off, in a race won by Huckleberry (10-13) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Rifleman (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Our Jim (11-3) at Hereford 3m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Feb '08.
Jack Harbour (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Aux Le Bahnn (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan, 14 ran.
Needle Prick (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) In touch, not fluent 8th, ridden and weakened 4 out, 8th of 16, 38l behind Lady Roania (11-7) at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov '07.
Oscar Owen (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Behind, weakened from 6th, 9th of 16, well behind Simple Glory (11-11) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Pekan One 22-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, 14th of 19, well behind Dalawan (11-5) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb '08.
Le Seychellois (FR) 40-1 (9-7) Towards rear, mistake 3rd, ridden approaching 8th, well behind 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Simple Glory (10-3) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Jun, 15 ran.
