led, hit 4th, headed 7th, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace
mid-division until dropped to rear after 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
held up, hit 4th, headway 6th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, switched left flat, kept on close home
chased leaders until weakened 6th, soon tailed off
held up, some headway 5th, weakened after next
in touch, hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
always prominent, led 7th, ridden after 2 out, pecked last, all out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Jafaru should appreciate this easier ground and Gerard Butler's gelding gets the vote in this open finale ahead of Baseball Ted, Winsley Hill and Disciple. As a four-year-old, the selection gets a tasty 9lb weight allowance and now qualified for handicaps after three moderate runs, this fairly useful flat performer is taken to get off the mark over timber. Adept at a mile and a half on the flat, this step up in trip should not harm his chances and so we fancy him to oblige. Form figures of 0000 about Disciple ring alarm bells as Tony Martin's gelding returns form an absence and he needs a lot of respect if the money comes, whilst Lord Lieutenant has it all to do from out of the handciap. Early Wings and Lady Bling Bling have enough weight for what they have achieved, so a bigger danger might be Baseball Ted who is unexposed and whilst his future may lie over fences, he might be able to pick up a race of this nature. Shernatra is another to consider returning from an absence, however we will side with Jafaru.
Shernatra (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Led until 4th, prominent, ridden after 3f out, every chance last, no extra, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Venice Road (10-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Business Traveller (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 9th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 16, 32l behind Jug Of Punch (10-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Oct '06.
Baseball Ted (IRE) 11-1 (10-1) Held up, hung right under pressure from 3 out, some late progress, never dangerous, 6th of 11, 14l behind Noble Raider (11-3) at Sandown 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Captain Becket 20-1 (10-13) Pulled early, led after 1st, ridden and headed after 6th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 19, 26l behind Amber Brook (10-9) at Exeter 2m 6f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Jafaru 16-1 (10-7) Towards rear, ridden after 4th, never nearer, 7th of 16, 22l behind Osolomio (11-3) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb.
Skyler 40-1 (11-3) In touch, ridden 7th, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 28l behind Pacha D'Oudairies (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Disciple 10-1 (10-9) last of 14, well behind Nintytwo Team (10-7) at Sligo 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 gf in May.
Sistema 50-1 (10-8) Mid-division, not fluent, no headway from 3 out, 9th of 16, 28l behind Moon Star (11-9) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Day Care 20-1 (10-3) Mid-division, 10th before 4 out, no impression under pressure from after next, 9th of 16, 28l behind Rushin' Russian (10-7) at Ballinrobe 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-102 gs in Jul.
Lord Lieutenant (FR) 66-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge after 4th, stayed on to go 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 18, 9l behind Double The Trouble (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f amt hcp hdl (5) gs.
Early Wings (GER) 18-1 (11-4) Keen, mistake 4th, brief headway 7th, soon beaten, 8th of 15, well behind Orphelin Collonges (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Lady Bling Bling 9-1 (11-1) In touch, ridden after 7th, weakened 3 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Cave of The Giant (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jan, 16 ran.
Winsley Hill 12-1 (10-10) In touch, led after 4 out until hard ridden and headed close home, 2nd of 16, nk behind Daraz Rose (10-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Sovereign Spirit (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from next, 6th of 21, 18l behind Wun Chai (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Feb.
Dovedale 11-1 (10-6) Chased leader, led after 2nd to 6th, kept on one pace, 4th of 16, 7l behind I'm A Legend (10-9) at Taunton 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
Sheikh McMurray 100-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened after next, 9th of 16, well behind Tampa Boy (11-2) at Hereford 2m 1f nh mdn hdl (4) gd in Feb.
