mid-division on inside, headway 6th, challenged 2 out, every chance last, hung left flat, bumped towards finish, stayed on
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led next, soon headed and weakened
mid-division, effort 3 out, no impression, weakened next
tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, no extra next
led until 6th, blundered and lost place 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, jumped right 1st, not fluent 3rd, led 6th, headed 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, headway 3 out, led after 2 out, driven flat, headed towards finish
mid-division, headway before 6th, soon pushed along, weakened approaching 3 out
never fluent, held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, mistake last, stayed on flat, squeezed through towards finish, led close home
Minella Reception won well at Southwell at the start of the month and almost followed up at Aintree but has gone up a further 5lb since. Dovils Date has also shot up the weights but has won easily on the Flat at Lingfield since scoring at Newton Abbot and is at the top of his game at present. Cool Macavity needs to bounce back from a inexplicably poor effort at Stratford but Knight In Purple is still capable at this level and Café Au Lait comes here off the back of a win at Auteuil eight days ago, though seems to need soft ground to show his best. BEACHFIRE ran in snatches on his reappearance at Worcester but will strip fitter here. He doesn't look badly treated on last year's form and, as he'll enjoy the quicker ground, could be worth an interest with the champion doing the steering. Azza was highly tried after winning at Carlisle in the autumn but may need this.
Red Merlin (IRE) 13-2fav (11-3) Chased leaders, soon settled in mid-division, headway before 3 out, switched right before last, ridden to lead run-in, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in May '12 beating Tony Star (10-8) by 2 1/2l, 19 ran.
Cool Macavity (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Held up, jumped slowly 4th, not going well after and pulled up before 5th, in a race won by Roman Flight (11-7) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in May, 9 ran.
Minella Reception (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, mistake and led next, not fluent last, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Max Ward (11-2) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Knight In Purple 15-2 (11-2) Held up on outside, closed 2nd, ridden 3 out, no extra before last, last of 9, 29l behind Max Ward (11-2) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Zarzal (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Prominent, led after 4 out, blundered when headed next, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 8l behind Lac Sacre (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in May.
Beachfire 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 6th, behind 4 out, kept on under pressure from 2 out, never troubled leaders, 6th of 13, 35l behind First Avenue (11-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs.
Azza (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Led until 2 out, weakened last, 17th of 24, 21l behind Hawk High (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcap hdle Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Cafe Au Lait (GER) (10-7) won at Auteuil(FR) 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl sft beating Apero Bleu (11-0) by nk, 11 ran.
Dubawi Phantom 33-1 (11-5) Towards rear, improved into 8th after 3 out, no impression and kept on same pace next, 6th of 14, 12l behind Greatness (10-7) at Kilbeggan 2m hcp hdl 80-109 gd.
Dovils Date 15-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, pressed last, kept on and held on well towards finish, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Apr beating Chalk It Down (11-5) by nk, 7 ran.
My Lord 9-1 (11-0) Held up behind, tracked leaders approaching 2 out, effort between last 2, one pace last, no impression in
