mid-division, not fluent 6th, ridden after 8th, headway next, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders, slow 3rd, 2nd briefly before blundered 9th, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, went modest 4th before 2 out, no chance
mid-division, headway 5th, went 2nd when not fluent 9th, every chance 2 out, no impression on winner last, one pace
tracked leader until before 9th, ridden 4 out, weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, not fluent 8th, headway before 4 out, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 5th, weakened before 9th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway on inside when not fluent 9th, 3rd after 3 out, led next, clear before mistake last, easily
led, jumped right 3 out, headed next, 3rd and no extra flat
This won’t take much winning but Fled Or Pled will need to do better than at Stratford last month if he’s to recoup losses. Polarbrook is a regular here and a course winner over shorter off a higher mark but he has a poor strike-rate. TIDESTREAM was second to the useful On Demand at Wincanton the last time he raced over hurdles. Now 5lb lower, he must have some sort of chance in a race like this.
Howaboutnever (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Not always fluent, mid-division, struggling before 4 out, tailed off, 13th of 15, dist behind Jigsaw Financial (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
En Joule 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 10th of 13, 25 1/2l behind Viking Mistress (11-8) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in May.
Cottonwool Baby (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) In rear, not much room 2nd, mistake 6th, well beaten after 4 out, pulled up before next, at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in May.
Tidestream 6-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, chased leaders on outside, hit 3rd, 2nd 10th until 12th, chased leaders, weakened 13th, 6th of 7, 21l behind Butlergrove King (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Don Sebastian (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up, behind 7th, 9th of 11, dist behind Riddlestown (11-13) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Fled Or Pled (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Held up in rear on outside, not fluent 6th or 7th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in May.
Withoutdefavourite (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Prom; led 12-14; wknd app 2 out, 4th of 10, 14 3/4l behind Northgeorge (12-3) at Pyle 3m gs in May.
Polarbrook (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, 3rd from 2 out, no impression on front pair, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 9 3/4l behind Arboretum (10-0) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in May.
French Seventyfive 22-1 (10-1) Held up mid-division, pushed along before 14th, tailed off 4 out, tailed off, pulled up, at Hexham 3m hcp (5) gd in Jun.