held up in touch, weakened from 10th, went poor 4th from after 5 out, never dangerous
towards rear, reminders approaching 9th, headway next, went 3rd approaching 3 out, one pace
led to 1st, tracked leader until ridden approaching 10th, weakened and eased when pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, weakened 9th, went remote 5th going to 3 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, reminders 4th, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
led after 1st, clear approaching 2 out, easily
held up towards rear, reminders after 4th, pushed along approaching 7th, soon struggling
tracked leaders, chased winner approahing 10th, no impression from 3 out
held up mid-division, pushed along 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-division, weakened and pulled up before 10th
towards rear, pushed along approaching 7th, tailed off from 9th, pulled up before 10th
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
With Pistol Basc looking a risky betting proposition at the likely odds our vote instead goes to OSSMANN, with Bertenbar and Gunship others to consider in a tight race. Ossmann ran with great credit when second when last seen 10 months ago, especially as that was his first outing since winning in November 2007. Clearly, he's a horse who's had his problems but he looks the sort to do well off this rating if fit enough to do himself justice and his win at Lingfield showed the gelding goes on good ground, so providing the market makes positive noises he's worth siding with. Pistol Basc looks well treated if his jockey's claim is taken into account and he ran well enough to take second last time. However, he has the unfortunate habit of making one or two serious mistakes and will need to jump a lot better if he's to score here. Gunship was given a cracking ride from the front last time and, as he was all out to hold on, this drop in distance may not prove troublesome. He is up 7lbs though and it remains to be seen how much that tough race has taken out of him, so he's taken on alongside Bertenbar, a relatively lightly-raced sort who just gives the impression he wants three miles. Rash Moment hasn't been with this yard all that long and his second to Ray Mond earlier in the spring has been franked so he can't be ruled out and neither can Classic Rock, although he was below par when last seen and has a question to answer now. This is a good race but plenty have clouds hanging over them; we'll side with the potential of Tom George's Ossmann.
Extra Smooth 20-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 7th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by My Skipper (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
Pistol Basc (FR) 9-4fav (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, left 3rd 4 out, kept on to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Nothingbutthetruth (11-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Ossmann (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed flat, no extra, finished tired, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Lavenoak Lad (11-9) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jun.
Rash Moment (FR) 7-1 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, outpaced 10th, headway to chase leaders after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 10, 9l behind Rexmehead (10-6) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Apr.
Doubly Sharp (USA) 33-1 (10-12) Close up, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 7, 45l behind King Troy (11-5) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in May '09.
Gunship (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) Made all, clear 9th, reduced lead before 2 out, hung right, idled and strongly pressed near finish, just held on, won at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Apr beating Mighty Moose (10-11) by ns, 17 ran.
Final Bid (IRE) 200-1 (10-11) Mistakes 1st and next, in touch until dropped to rear 6th, soon lost touch, behind when unseated rider 10th, in a race won by Masked Man (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Apr, 6 ran.
Bertenbar 7-2fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd before 8th, led 11th until 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Chicago Alley (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Apr.
De Danu (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, in touch when badly hampered and unseated rider 5 out, in a race won by Oscar Dubh (10-12) at Wexford 2m 3f nov hcp chs (0-109) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Saddlers Mount (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) In touch, towards rear from 7th, hit 10th, weakened 13th, 6th of 10, 49l behind Tanners Court (11-7) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Major Euro (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Not much room 1st, prominent until 2nd, held up, ridden and behind after 7th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Abbey Dore (10-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-85 (5) sft in Mar, 11 ran.
Classic Rock 7-2fav (10-10) Held up in touch, weakened from 14th, 6th of 9, 43l behind Ukrainian Star (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Rudinero (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, mistake 7th, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 15, well behind Restart (10-4) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Apr.
Brandy And Pep (IRE) 15-2 (10-9) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway on outer approaching 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Wide Receiver (11-1) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Mar, 10 ran.
