led, headed 4th, driven 8th, weakened 3 out
led 4th, ridden 3 out, hung left, fading after last, headed flat
held up in touch, keen, ridden 8th, ran on to lead flat
held up tracking leaders, ridden 3 out to chase leader, weakened approaching last
close up, blundered 5 out, soon dropped rear
in rear and raced wide, closer order 5th, ridden 4 out, plugged on for poor 4th
Kety Star is 9lb higher than when taking this last year but still looks good enough to win it again, with Mange Tout and Silvergino looking best of the rest. The selection just held off Flahive's First a year ago from a mark of 111, and he now comes back for a repeat after a narrow win at Newton Abbot last month. He is consistent and jumps well and provided the ground does not get soft then he can probably raise his game to score. Mange Tout is 7lb higher than when taking a Stratford chase last time and he is no more certain than our selection to defy that rise. Generally his form is not as good as Kety Star and we oppose here. Eae The Way may be a bigger danger. He gets a 5lb pull from Mange Tout for less than two lengths last time and looks capable of reversing the placings, but Kety Star looks capable of beating them both and can follow up last year's victory.
Ease The Way 7-1 (10-12) Led to 3rd, chased leader after, led just after 4 out, soon ridden, headed last, not quicken, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Mange Tout (10-1) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jun.
Kety Star (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 7th, led approaching 2 out, driven out, won at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Jun beating Albarino (10-5) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Mange Tout (IRE) 18-1 (10-1) Prominent, lost place 3rd, progress again 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, hung left before 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jun beating Ease The Way (10-12) by 2l, 7 ran.
Wenger (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, never a factor, 4th of 7, 36l behind Jam Packed (10-10) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jun.
Silvergino (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up, headway 12th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 13, 18l behind Beehawk (9-12) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Idealko (FR) 33-1 (10-8) Mid-division, reminders after 4th, behind from next, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Silverhay (12-0) at Stratford 2m amt hcp hdl (4) gf in Jun, 12 ran.