started slowly, soon well behind, pulled up after 8th
mistakes, held up and keen, jumped badly left and unseated rider 3rd
towards rear, tailed off from 4th, blundered 6th, pulled up before 10th
chased leaders 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
headway to chase leaders 9th, in 6th and weakening when fell 3 out
towards rear, steady headway 11th, stayed on from last, just failed, finished 2nd awarded race
chased leaders to 11th
held up, weakened 9th, pulled up before 5 out
led to 6th, weakened 12th
chased leaders, led 12th, hung left flat, just held on, finished 1st disqualified and placed 2nd
behind, ridden approaching 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
chased leader, led 6th, headed 12th, one pace
The Sneakster is the pick over the likes of Devils And Dust and In Extra Time, with San Marco and Cardinal Sinn others that merit just a small word. In Truth nothing stands out here, but something has to win, and on the strength of some placed efforts in the past, The Sneakster is taken to finally break her duck at the 25th attempt. Steve Brookshaw's nine-year-old mare does at least handle fast ground, and based on her latest effort when second at Market Rasen, will appreciate this step back up in trip. With the useful Phil Kinsella able to take 3lb off her back, she has as good a chance as any. Devils And Dust was just touched off in first-time cheekpieces at Towcester, but that was a poor race, and she is hard to enthuse about. In Extra Time was pulled up on each of his last two starts, and has not been seen since January. In addition, his ability to handle fast ground is open to question, and a bigger danger may well be San Marco who shaped well on a couple of occasions last year, and who will be all the better for his return to action at Hereford recently. The Flat-bred Cardinal Sinn makes his chase debut, so cannot be put forward with any confidence, and for the winner we return to The Sneakster.
Maldoun (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Led, jumped left 2nd, soon headed, mistake 4th, well behind 8th, hampered by loose horse 10th, left poor 2nd 11th, left in lead next, left well clear 3 out, won at Stratford 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs in Mar beating Society Buck (10-12) by a di.
Cardinal Sinn (UAE) 33-1 (10-12) Always behind, ridden and struggling after 5th, 10th of 13, 38l behind My Turn Now (11-5) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Ad Murum (IRE) 9-2 (10-3) Led to 4th, tracked leader, blundered 13th, soon lost place, behind when blundered and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Rival Bidder (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Devils And Dust (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Always prominent, ridden to lead 3 out, all out and headed last strides, 2nd of 16, shd behind Go Harvey Go (10-13) at Towcester 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
San Marco (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Led, headed briefly 5th, headed after 6th and soon weakened, 10th of 18, well behind Kelv (10-11) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Apr.
The Sneakster (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Chased leader from 4th, led 3 out, headed last 75 yards, one pace, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Grand Manner (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (4) gf in Apr.
Jim Bobs Girl (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Held up towards rear, hampered 4 out, left moderate 3rd last, 3rd of 11, 27l behind Square Mile (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gf in Apr.
In Extra Time (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, weakened and pulled up at the last in race won by Lescer's Lad (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jan, 11 ran.
