chased leaders, under pressure 4 out, soon lost place, behind when pulled up last
held up in rear but in touch, effort when blundered 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, led and blundered 3 out, headed after next, jumped right at last, not pace of winner
chased leaders, mistake 7th, headway 3 out, soon every chance, led before last, soon clear, ran on well
settled in rear, not fluent 4th, slow 8th, headway 2 out, never on terms
led until 3 out, rallied and every chance next, stayed on same pace approaching last
TARA ROYAL is back in this grade for the first time since winning cosily at Musselburgh in February. He doesn't always find as much as expected but A P McCoy will probably hold him up for a late run here and he is good enough to defy top weight. Try Catch Me was second at Hereford last month but races from 4lb out of the handicap while Nobunaga makes his handicap debut, though is heading in the right direction. Schumpters Lad will have needed last month's run at Newton Abbot and is preferred to the returning Gracchus and hunter chaser Sunday City of the others.
Tara Royal 7-2fav (10-9) Held up, took keen hold, headway approaching 3 out, switched left before 2 out, ridden and no impression last, 5th of 6, 10l behind Rio Gael (10-0) at Aintree 2m hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Gracchus (USA) 6-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 8th, weakened next, 4th of 5, 37l behind Park Lane (10-3) at Kempton 2m nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Sunday City (JPN) 9-1 (11-11) Prominent, mistake 5th, weakened approaching last, 4th of 10, 25l behind Island Life (12-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd in May.
Nobunaga 2-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, pushed along before 4 out, closed approaching 2 out, led last, drew clear flat, won at Ludlow 2m nov chs (3) sft in Apr beating Take Of Shoc's (11-8) by 6l, 4 ran.
Schumpters Lad (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 9th, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 9, 44l behind Dean's Grange (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in May.
Try Catch Me (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on one pace, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Brimham Boy (10-8) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May.
