prominent, driven and weakened over 4f out, eased 2f out
chased leaders, bit slipped through horses mouth after 3f out, soon pulled up
held up in touch, chased leaders over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, flashed tail under pressure, no extra close home
mid-division, hampered after 3f, headway 4f out, ridden and effort 2f out, kept on same pace
made all, strongly challenged from 2f out, kept on strongly under pressure (no time taken)
pulled hard in mid-division, headway over 4f out, soon chasing leaders, never able to challenge
mid-division, chased leaders halfway, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, headway halfway, chased leaders 3f out, weakened over 1f out
behind, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch, hard ridden to challenge over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up mid-division, headway halfway, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 3f out
held up in rear, hampered after 3f, weakened over 5f out, tailed off
behind, under pressure halfway, soon beaten
tracked leaders, lost place 4f out, tailed off
Plenty of candidates for the bumper, and among the leading players look to be Lady Vera, Hear My Song, Anquetta and Awesome Freddie, but we will side with CHARTREUX. David Pipe's gelding won an Irish point when there was a little cut in the ground and has, encouragingly, increased in price at both three and four-years-old. Nicely related, he looks a very useful sort and is taken to score. Alan King may well be hitting top gear now and Awesome Freddie is another of good pedigree, while his sire stayed 1m 4f on the flat and acted on soft ground. It would be no surprise to see him go close. Nicky Henderson's Anquetta will probably be short enough and he is another to have increased in price at three and four. Related to winners, he is sure to be well prepared, but there has to be a doubt about him on the ground. Lady Vera won a mares' bumper over course and distance and so escapes a penalty for that. She is bred to get much further and acts with cut so can't be ruled out against the others from more illustrious yards, while Hear My Song made a quiet debut but can surely improve on that now with some cut underfoot, which is likely to suit. Charteux is given the nod.
Bentons Choice 11-4 (10-7) Prominent, led after 4f, made rest, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Hexham 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Mar '08 beating Santo Stefano (11-0) by 13l, 9 ran.
All In Time Beat All gelding out of Buckintime.
Anquetta (IRE) Anshan gelding out of Quetta.
Awesome Freddie Karinga Bay gelding out of Awesome Aunt.
Chartreux (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Chsd ldrs in 3rd/4th, disp on inner aftr 4out, ld bef 2out, so, won at Dromahane 3m ire ptp in Apr beating Iron Chancellor (11-7) by 3l, 11 ran.
Featherbed Lane (IRE) Saddlers' Hall gelding out of Frankly Native.
Flying Flagship Alflora gelding out of Flagship Princess.
Hear My Song (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway over 5f out, weakened 3f out, 5th of 12, 21l behind Another Kate (10-11) at Hereford 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Nov.
Lady Vera 33-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway over 6f out, ridden well over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Warwick 2m mrs NH flat (4-7yo) (6) gs in Mar beating Jenny's Gold (10-7) by 1l, 20 ran.
Oh No Not Harry (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Led, headed over 12f out, remained prominent, led over 2f out, headed just over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Born To Perform (11-5) at Southwell 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
R Craig (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, never on terms, 8th of 12, 22l behind Fiveways (11-4) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in May.
Spiritual Guidance (IRE) Broken Hearted gelding out of Native Tango.
Strong Silver Silver Patriarch gelding out of Severn Gale.
A Fistful Of Euros East Wood mare out of Europa.
Moonlight Rose 33-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, weakened 3f out, last of 7, 26l behind Laureldean River (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Nov.
The Devon Daisy Karinga Bay filly out of Mimosa.
Rousing Rob Selkirk gelding out of Fantastic Belle.
Fly From Basra 22-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened over 6f out, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Little Josh (10-13) at Stratford 2m NH flat (5) sft in Sep '08.
Jat Punjabi Karinga Bay gelding out of Balmoral Princess.
Ionaguru 100-1 (10-2) Mid-division, raced keenly, weakened over 3f out, 16th of 18, 35l behind Suburban Bay (10-9) at Warwick 1m 6f 3yo nhf (5) sft in Nov '08.
