led, hit and headed 4th, hit next, led again 6th to 13th, ridden 3 out, headed last, stayed on
with leader, led 4th to 6th, ridden 12th, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led 12th to 13th, ridden after 16th, led last, driven out
With Sue Smith's stable in fair form, April Spirit is taken to recoup recent losses, with hat-trick seeking Klondike Charger the main danger. April Spirit was sent off favourite here 18 days ago after making the most of the rain-softened ground to score over the same course and distance the time before. However, she was taken off her feet on the faster ground and was never a danger. Underfoot conditions this time will also be faster than the eight-year-old would really like, but her chance is based on the step up in trip to three miles and two furlongs that is just up her street. She also receives weight from Klondike Charger and should be up to the task against an opponent seeking a third successive victory, but who is going back up the weights again after those back-to-back Fontwell successes. Lucky Clover was very disappointing last time, while it is hard to enthuse about Shuttleworth. All in all, April Spirit has a first-rate chance of toppling Klondike Charger and gets the vote.
