always towards rear
close up, blundered 7th, soon in rear, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden and every chance last, kept on and held towards finish
chased leaders and unseated rider 4th
held up towards rear, blundered 8th, went 4th 2 out, no impression
held up mid-division, led before and blundered 2 out, kept on, driven out
chased leader, led 5th, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon one pace
led to 5th, tracked leader, one pace from 2 out
in rear, unseated rider 4th
Five last-time-out winners clash but rather strangely all come with question marks and everything revolves about who can back up a recent victory. GRAND ARTICLE goes well here so it was fitting that the Cowley charge finally got off the mark over course and distance last time, a first success in 30 tries. He's been lightly-raced this year and could just follow up on ground that he requires to show his best. Wicklewood also came good at last here on his latest start, a first win in 49 starts under Rules. Gary Derwin maintains the partnership and the combination are respected, along with recent Newton Abbot scorer, Nomadic Storm, who will nevertheless find conditions very different to the heavy ground he encountered just four days ago. Seaside Shuffle landed a hurdle success last time but that was 151 days ago and he showed little in five chasing starts in Ireland. Sportsreport has place claims.
Seaside Shuffle (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway after 5th, challenged approaching 2 out, driven flat, led towards finish, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl (3yo+) (5) gd in Dec beating Spinning Waters (11-2) by nk, 14 ran.
Special Mate 20-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden along before 7th, weakened 3 out, 10th of 13, 36l behind Helium (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Apr '13.
Nomadic Storm 3-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, clear before and mistake last, eased towards finish, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy beating Respectueux (11-12) by 14l, 6 ran.
My Nosy Rosy 5-4 (11-7) (tt) held up; stdy hdwy 12; rdn to ld app last; all out, won at Woodland Pytchley 2m 4f ptp gd in Apr beating Clondaw Island (12-0) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Sportsreport (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Blundered 1st, well in rear, jumped slowly 3rd, headway and in touch 6th, 4th approaching 10th, 3rd 4 out, challenging for 2nd when went right and bumped 3 out, driven and no extra in 3rd between last 2, weakened to 4th last, 4th of 6, 24l behind Shantou Breeze (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Red Whisper 9-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 4 out, went 4th 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, one pace, 4th of 9, 23l behind Wicklewood (9-9) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs.
Wicklewood 13-2 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway 4th, mistake 5th, went 3rd after 5th, went 2nd from 8th, led 4 out, kept on well, won at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs beating Beauchamp Viking (10-0) by 5l, 9 ran.
Grand Article (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, regained lead 2 out, kept on from last, won at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr beating Tinelyra (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
West Bay Hoolie 33-1 (10-2) In rear, pushed along after 7th, soon tailed off, pulled up before last, in a race won by Malibu Sun (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Mar, 9 ran.
