made all, asserted after 2 out, ran on well
took keen hold, mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway to chase leaders after 5th, went 2nd just after 2 out, no impression on winner
chased leaders to 6th, tailed off
prominent, reminder after 2nd, weakened after 6th
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, switched right, chased winner briefly 2 out where mistake, weakened flat
held up towards rear, never on terms
held up, bumped badly 1st, headway after 6th, soon pushed along, no impression
chased winner, every chance 3 out, 4th and weakening when slightly hampered before 2 out
pulled hard, soon in mid-division, blundered 5th, weakened next
held up towards rear, never near leaders
behind, jumped badly, no chance after 5th
It's difficult to get away from Advancement here but he may be worth taking on with Strong Survivor. Advancement does have to concede upwards of a stone to all bar one of his rivals but there seems to be every chance that he will be able to do so successfully given the paucity of the opposition. He didn't show a great deal on his first two starts but landed a gamble on his third outing by a nose before pulling 14 lengths clear of the field last time on faster ground; he did get the run of the race last time and the opposition may not have amounted to much but he did the job nicely and appears to be progressing. The other winner in this race, Thistle, is no more than a plater whilst few of the remainder have done enough to suggest that they have any ability. Support for Scrape The Paint would be of obvious interest given his connections and this is certainly less demanding than the two races that he's contested whilst Heather Dalton is perfectly capable of landing a sting and Sumner was a fair performer on the level and unexposed over obstacles. The selection was also a fair sort on the Flat and represents Paul Webber whose horses are running pretty well at present. The key bit of form to his name is his debut second to the smart Blue Bajan last December; there's no doubt that his proximity to the winner flattered him but those behind give the form some substance and it doesn't read too badly in the context of this race. He receives lumps of weight from the probable favourite and Strong Survivor may just be able to make the most of it.
Advancement 7-1 (11-12) Led, clear until 3rd, quickened clear again approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, mistake last, unchallenged, won at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jun beating Acapulco Bay (11-3) by 14l, 7 ran.
Thistle 7-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, blundered badly 4th, not recover and in rear thereafter, 6th of 10, 26l behind Crouch End Flyer (9-13) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in May.
Devils Bridge 100-1 (10-12) Hampered 1st, jumped badly, mid-division, no chance from 7th, 13th of 15, well behind Robert The Brave (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Glann Boy (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Held up, weakened after 3 out, badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Our Choice (10-12) at Southwell 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Jun, 14 ran.
January Man (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Prominent, reminders afer 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 15, well behind Red Admiral (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Scrape The Paint 40-1 (10-12) Led until 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before last, last of 5, 37l behind Woolcombe Folly (11-8) at N Abbot 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gf in Jun.
Strong Survivor (USA) 8-1 (11-0) In touch until weakened after 3 out, 11th of 18, 46l behind Pasco (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Youluckyman (IRE) 150-1 (10-9) Held up, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out, 6th of 12, 32l behind Canalturn (10-7) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Sumner (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, well behind Battle Stations (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Petrovka (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, hit 2nd, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 13, well behind Akram (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jun.
Redd Ragusa 200-1 (10-7) Pulled hard and soon prominent, lost place before 3 out, last of 16, well behind Atomic Winner (10-6) at Huntingdon 2m mrs mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Saddlers' Gait (IRE) 200-1 (10-5) Held up, struggling 3rd, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Robert The Brave (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Jun, 15 ran.
Chiff Chaff 66-1 (10-2) Held up when mistake and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Southern Regent (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Jun, 15 ran.
