held up towards rear, midfield 4th, pulled into lead 5th, ridden clear approaching last, cosily
held up towards rear, in rear 5th, pushed along before 4 out, hard ridden and no impression after 3 out, faded after 2 out
led, headed before 5th, ridden after 4 out, chased leader 2 out, weakened before last
pressed leader, midfield 5th, ridden after 3 out, headway to chase leader 2 out, stayed on into clear 2nd but no chance with winner before last
in rear, steady headway travelling strongly 10th (water), ridden after 3 out, weakened from 2 out
midfield, awkward 9th, towards rear 10th, last place 4 out, ridden before 3 out, well adrift 2 out, stayed on from last
Romanor seeks a fourth course victory but is probably better over shorter. SIZING CUSIMANO is 0-10 over fences but runs off his lowest-ever mark and has his ground so can get the better of Embole, who has his quirks and has yet to show much over the larger obstacles. Shaman Du Berlais remains winless and his having a first run since September 2019 but it would be no surprise if Kerry Lee found a small race for him this summer.
Shaman Du Berlais (FR) 5-4fav (10-12) Led, clear after 2nd until 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, not much room before awkward last, no impression flat, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Ruthless Article (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (4) gd in Sep.
Embole (FR) 11-2 (10-10) Held up in rear, hit 2nd, headway between horses before 2 out, travelled strongly to challenge last, one pace flat, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Ask Paddington (11-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Sizing Cusimano 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, cajoled along before 3 out, soon hard ridden, up for 3rd after last, just held on towards finish, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Big Nasty (11-10) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in May.
Lies About Milan (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden along from 5th, 5th and weakening when hung badly right and tried to run out final bend before 2 out, soon pulled up, at Warwick 3m 1f mdn (4) gs in May.
Romanor 14-1 (11-10) Keen in rear, jumped right 3rd, not fluent 8th, jumped right 4 out and ridden, one pace from 3 out, 8th of 14, 33 1/2l behind Jemima P (11-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Steel Wave (IRE) 66-1 (11-8) Towards rear, under pressure well before 2 out, not a factor, 11th of 13, dist behind Pounding Poet (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
