chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 5th, ridden before 8th, well beaten 4 out, mistake 2 out
pressed leader until bumped 3rd, stayed handy, mistake 10th, outpaced before 3 out, switched right and rallied before last, went 3rd flat, stayed on
chased leaders, challenged 4 out, led next, headed 2 out, no extra flat
mid-division, headway 8th, tracking leaders when fell 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd and bumped 3rd, led 5th, headed before mistake 4 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, challenged 4 out, soon led, not fluent and headed 3 out, led again 3 out, stayed on, ridden out
led until 5th, hit 7th, led before 4 out, headed after 4 out, no extra from 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 11th, never involved
held up rear of mid-division, some headway 8th, lost place next, weakened before 4 out
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, mistake 10th, headway 4 out, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, no extra flat
held up in rear, not fluent 4th or 6th, stayed on from 3 out, went 4th close home, nearest finish
held up in mid-division, bad mistake 9th, headway on inside 4 out, switched right and went 2nd when jumped left last, no impression towards finish
The day’s feature looks ultra-competitive, unlike the other chases on today’s card. Magic Dancer, from the same yard as last year’s winner, goes well fresh so a break since February is not a concern. A drop back in trip might suit Witness Protection and Northern Bound was improving prior to unseating his rider at Chepstow. CAPTAIN TOM CAT is back on the same mark as when last successful in a handicap so gets the nod though Raffle Ticket is clearly progressive and Coastguard Station threatens to stay this longer distance. The prolific Gloire D'athon is preferred to Walk In Clover of the remainder.
Tea Clipper (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, no extra in 4th between last two, weakened badly and lost places run-in, 8th of 16, 18 3/4l behind Kitty's Light (10-8) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Killer Clown (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Chased leader from 2nd, driven before 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 7, 13 1/4l behind Richmond Lake (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Northern Bound (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Off the pace towards rear, pushed along in modest 5th home turn, 5th and struggling when mistake and unseated rider last, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Raffle Ticket 7-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, slightly hampered 2nd, closed next, ridden after 3 out, effort 2 out, led flat, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in May beating Noahthirtytwored (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Witness Protection (IRE) 18-1 (10-13) Soon led, ridden and headed 3 out, gradually faded, 6th of 11, 14 3/4l behind Arizona Cardinal (10-3) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) gs in May.
Gloire D'Athon (FR) 11-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders out wide, went 2nd before 3 out, 3 lengths down and looked held run-in, stayed on as leader stopped to a walk run-in, led final 100 yards, soon clear, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr beating Harper's Brook (11-10) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Captain Tom Cat (IRE) 5-2fav (11-3) Prominent, headway to chase leader before 3 out where 1 length down, soon driven, 2 lengths down 2 out, weakened into 3rd before last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 9, 10 1/2l behind La Domaniale (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in May.
Jacamar (GER) 7-1 (11-3) Mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, weakened next, last of 7, 18 1/2l behind Boombawn (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in May.
Magic Dancer 16-1 (11-11) Off the pace and always towards rear, never involved, 5th of 9, dist behind Super Six (11-4) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Coastguard Station (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Held up and behind, mistake 6th, not fluent 9th, headway from 2 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Malystic (12-0) at Ayr 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Walk In Clover (IRE) 15-8fav (12-1) Held up in last, went second after 3 out, pressed leader going easily approaching last, ridden along to lead flat, kept on well, won at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gs in Apr beating Midnight Mary (12-2) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Quid Pro Quo (IRE) 9-4 (11-13) Not fluent 1st, held up in 4th on inside, jumped slowly 8th, mistake 11th, went 3rd 4 out, switched out after next, 2nd before 2 out, stayed on same pace from last, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Young Buster (11-5) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
