led, not fluent 5th, 3 lengths lead and ridden when fell 3 out
held up in rear, headway when hampered 3 out, 5th when fell 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along and struggling after 6th, blundered and hampered 3 out, never dangerous
took keen hold in touch, lost place after 5th, no chance when hampered 2 out
took keen hold, always behind, hampered 3 out
tracked leader until approaching 6th, weakening when hampered 3 out, mistake 2 out
mid-division, headway after 5th, went 2nd when left in lead 3 out, hit 2 out, soon headed 3rd and weakening when fell last
held up towards rear, took keen hold, some headway approaching 2 out, left moderate 4th last
always in touch, led just after 2 out, stayed on well flat, driven out
held up in rear, mistake 1st, headway when slightly hampered 3 out, beaten approaching 2 out, left moderate 3rd last
took keen hold, always prominent, ridden when slightly hampered 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, one pace flat
Quinte Du Chatelet may have disappointed at Worcester but that was a better race than this and it may pay to give him the chance to bounce back. Winsley Hill is the obvious threat having won her penultimate start and having only gone down by a short-head over course and distance last time. Those runs came on quick ground though and she does have a little to prove with conditions likely to be on the soft side. The Ice Bar did win a bumper in Ireland so possesses some ability and could feature but Grasscutter has more obvious claims as he held every chance when falling three out on his hurdling bow at Bangor. That fall may have just affected his confidence though so we'll take a chance that David Pipe's charge can bounce back from a modest display in a better race than this and that we'll see the real Quinte Du Chatelet today.
Quinte du Chatelet (FR) 4-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 12, 27l behind dhtrs Prince Taime (11-5) & Matuhi (11-5) at Worcester 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Alqaayid (8-11) Never a threat, 8th of 14, 15l behind Cuban (8-6) at Le Croise-Laroch 1m 2f in Nov (Flat).
Murrumbidgee (IRE) 150-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, outpaced from 5th, no impression from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 15l behind Dream Catcher (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in May.
Pole Dancer 25-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, tracked leader to 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Toby Belch (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in May, 10 ran.
Shadow Jumper (IRE) 18-1 (9-2) Mid-division, soon pushed along, weakened final furlong, 12th of 13, 11l behind Blue Empire (9-5) at Southwell 7f sll (6) gf in Apr (Flat).
Sleep Talk (USA) 33-1 (11-4) Always in rear, struggling before halfway, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Front Of House (11-8) at Ludlow 2m nhf (5) gd in Apr.
The Ice Bar (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up, 8th after halfway, no extra from over 4f out, 9th of 12, well behind Rathmore Castle (11-11) at Naas 2m 3f nhf gd in Oct.
Wee Ziggy 100-1 (10-9) Held up and behind, took keen hold, no chance after 6th, tailed off when blundered 3 out, 8th of 10, well behind Sendani (10-12) at Aintree 2m nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Winsley Hill 4-1co-fav (10-12) Raced keenly, always prominent, ridden to challenge last, led flat, headed last stride, 2nd of 15, shd behind Talkingstick (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Five A Side 14-1 (10-12) Chased leader to 4 out, weakened before next, well behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Shavansky (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Grasscutter (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Chased leader, every chance when fell 3 out in race won by Heezazari (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f nh mdn hdl (4) gd in May, 12 ran.