held up towards rear, reminders after 9th, always behind
chased leader, led 6th, headed 10th, ridden 12th, weakened approaching 4 out
in touch, raced keenly, weakened approaching 11th
mid-division, headway 8th, ridden 4 out, disputing close 5th when brought down 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, headway 12th, disputing close 5th when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
led to 6th, reminders 10th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
mid-division, mistake 1st and 2nd, jumped slowly 3rd, soon in rear, detached 8th, pulled up before 9th
held up, headway approaching 11th, chased winner 4 out, challenged from 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division on outside, reminders after 4th, behind from 10th
held up, headway approaching 10th, led 12th, stayed on under pressure flat
in touch, lost place after jumping slowly 8th, in rear when mistake 10th, tailed up when pulled up before 4 out
prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 12th, hampered 3 out
chased leaders, ridden 4 out, soon hung left, 4th when fell 3 out
in rear, pushed along 4th, no chance when blundered 10th, pulled up after 11th
prominent, led 10th, mistake 11th, headed next, ridden 4 out, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, headway 8th, mistake 12th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
Not an easy race to call with four of the leading players - Paradise Expected, WILLING WEASEL, Iris's Flyer and Sarahs Gift - all having returned as beaten favourites last time. The winner may well come from that quartet though and we'll plump for Kim Bailey's runner who was made favourite for a three mile handicap chase at Perth. He looked a live danger there until seemingly failing for stamina and is given another chance now that he reverts in trip on what is just his third chase start. Johns Square was tried in blinkers at Towcester but that failed to bring about any improvement and connections are presumably hoping that the drop in trip and better ground will assist. Paradise Expected had no obvious excuses for her defeat at Stratford but drops in trip and enters calculations as does the consistent maiden Sarahs Gift. Iris's Flyer is another relatively consistent performer but comes into this on the back of a poor run as does Radar Love who had passed the post first on his penultimate start but both rate a mention as does Major Catch but the suggestion is Willing Weasel.
Willing Weasel (IRE) 10-3fav (11-0) Held up in rear, headway to track leaders 4 out, 6 lenths 4th and outpaced when blundered last, 4th of 10, 23l behind Stravaigin (10-6) at Perth 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) gf in May '08.
Radar Love 11-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, in touch, ridden 12th, behind from next, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Strolling Vagabond (10-1) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Apr.
Major Catch (IRE) 15-2 (10-10) Prominent, outpaced 10th, no impression before 4 out, 4th of 11, 11l behind Major Euro (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Apr.
Bog Oak (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 11, 31l behind Oso Magic (11-3) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Mar.
Pistol Basc (FR) 6-1 (11-1) Held up, headway 12th, driven and weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 11, 48l behind Chernik (11-7) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Fencote Mystery 150-1 (10-11) Led, headed 6th, with leader, ridden and lost place 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 16, 41l behind Sa Suffit (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chase (4) gs in Jan.
Silver Missile 500-1 (10-5) Chased clear leader until 6th, weaekend before next, 5th of 10, well behind Bensalem (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Easby Mandarin 40-1 (10-8) Held up, not fluent 13th, headway 5 out, 3rd and outpaced when blundered next, soon weakened, tailed off, 3rd of 6, 41l behind Andrew Nick (11-5) at Ayr 3m 1f clm chs (3) gd in Apr.
Le Millenaire (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, under pressure after 9th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 10, 31l behind Funny Fellow (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 4f 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Paradise Expected 11-8fav (10-4) Held up, headway 8th, went 2nd before 3 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 16l behind Jackella (11-5) at Stratford 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
Johns Square (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) In touch, led 13th, headed when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Gerrard (11-3) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd in Mar, 16 ran.
Caislean Na Deirge (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, last of 8, well behind Master John (12-1) at Bangor 3m hts chs (6) gd in Apr.
Iris's Flyer 7-2fav (10-4) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, weakened after 4 out, 4th of 14, 23l behind Apocalozzo (10-8) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
And Your Point Is (USA) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, blundered 15th, weakened 17th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Dennis The Legend (11-4) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Apr, 10 ran.
Idbury (IRE) 100-1 (11-10) Towards rear, hit 5th, jumped left 7th, mistake 12th, no impression, 5th of 9, 33l behind Bob Hall (11-10) at Ludlow 2m 4f amat chs (5) gd in Apr.
Sarahs Gift (IRE) 4-1fav (10-6) Held up towards rear, steady headway to chase leaders 11th, ridden and weakened before 4 out, 7th of 10, 45l behind Strolling Vagabond (10-1) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Apr.
