held up in touch, headway 6th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
always prominent, ridden to lead 3 out, stayed on
held up, headway 8th, weakened approaching 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace and no impression from next
soon prominent, led approaching 3rd, headed 5th, prominent until weakened 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
led until approaching 3rd, in touch until lost place after 9th, weakening when blundered and unseated rider 11th
behind, mistake and reminders 4th, never going well, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up, reminders after 7th, weakened after 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
prominent, led 5th, headed 9th, weakened approaching 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, ridden after 9th, headway 11th, led briefly approaching 3 out, not quicken from 2 out
in touch, hit 4th, led 9th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
The Hearty Joker can get us off to a good start here from Tudor King and Catch The Perk, in a race where most of them are in the grip of the handicapper. The selection has to produce a lifetime best to win the race, but it is not the strongest he has contested and he has plenty going for him in context. A specialist at this sort of trip, he also appreciates fast ground and we can dismiss his attempt over three miles at Huntingdon last time as he is much happier over this shorter distance. His 25 length success over Pangeran at Towcester in May suggests he can defy this 4lb higher mark and with five weeks off to freshen him up a bit we are happy to side with Brendan Powell's charge. Tudor King receives weight from the Hearty Joker and is not without a chance. This trip would be about as short as he would want it, but it is not a strong race and if he sets the pace and can make it more of a staying contest then he could be thereabouts. He has won off a higher mark than this on fast ground twice last season, so a return to anything like that form would give him every chance. Of the others, Catch The Perk makes most appeal. A consistent sort, he faces a tough task giving weight away virtually all around from a mark 6lb higher than he has ever won off. Admittedly the trip suits well, though he would not want to ground to get too fast and though he should run his race, others are preferred. Astral Prince suffered last time for a 13lb hike for winning at Sedgefield on his penultimate start and even if he completes here he looks to have an arduous task, so we will stick with The Hearty Joker to pick up the money.
