held up mid-division, tracked leaders after 4 out, joined winner 3 out, ridden after 2 out, no extra flat
prominent, hit 5th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, no extra from last
held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out, soon tailed off
made all, challenged from 3 out, ridden and jumped right last, held on well, pushed out
held up in touch, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, tailed off from 4 out
held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon weakened
tracked winner, pushed along approaching 4th, outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on from last to take 2nd towards finish
in rear, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, quickly lost place and in rear from 3rd, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
Players Please is the one to beat on paper but the Tim Vaughan factor swings the balance in favour of TOTOMAN, whilst Hypnotic Gaze could go well at a price. Our selection has his first run for Welsh maestro Vaughan and his record of improving other yard's cast-offs is exemplary. Add that to the fact that Totoman's best run on the flat came on quick ground and there's every chance this son of Mtoto will prove up to the task, especially if the market makes the right noises. With Richard Johnson in the plate, our assumption is that it will and he's awarded the vote. Players Please officially has 10lbs in hand of our pick at the weights and is respected accordingly. Timmy Murphy is an eye-catching booking and ground conditions will be fine, but his best effort on the flat came over a mile and a half and he may lack the gears required to land this. Hypnotic Gaze has gone well on the flat this year off marks in the high 60's so there's every chance he'll land one of these at some stage. Andrew Tinkler's mount took an encouraging fourth on his hurdling debut and there should be more to come from him, with this step down in class likely to see him competitive. Mr Melodious is best-in at the weights and must be considered, however his best efforts have come on slower ground and he's opposed with that in mind. Starbougg has a bit to find but arrives in form and can't be ruled out and Turner Brown needs a look in the market, but Totoman could be a cut above this level and gets the vote.
Turner Brown (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Towards rear, some headway over 4f out, kept on one pace in straight, 8th of 24, 34l behind Auspicious Outlook (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 2f N H flat gd in Apr.
Totoman 5-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, left 2nd at 4th, ridden to challenge before 2 out, no extra before last, 5th of 17, 8l behind Red Key (11-2) at Clonmel 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd in Sep.
Gordon Road (IRE) 11-1 (10-1) Held up, headway 5f out, stayed on from over 2f out, 4th of 13, 13l behind Gallox Bridge (10-13) at Fontwell 1m 6f NH flat (6) sft in Feb.
Players Please (USA) 7-2fav (11-12) Led until 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, hampered at hurdle, 9th of 12, 28l behind Requin (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Cordier 9-2 (11-2) Led, mistake 7th, headed approaching 8th, weakened 9th, pulled up before 2 out tailed off, in a race won by Star Tenor (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Apr, 5 ran.
Bold Indian (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, hit 2 out, no impression, 6th of 10, 23l behind Authentic Act (9-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Lava Steps (USA) 18-1 (8-9) Dwelt badly, in rear, ridden and weakened over 4f out, last of 8, 48l behind Rare Ruby (9-9) at Nottingham 2m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in May (flat).
Mr Melodious 14-1 (10-7) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders 5th, ridden 3 out, stayed on under pressure from next, no impression, 4th of 14, 26l behind House Of Bourbon (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gf in May.
Castle Myth (USA) 20-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, outpaced 4 out, headway before 2nd last, never nearer, 6th of 10, 45l behind Arisea (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gf in May.
Starbougg 9-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, mistake 8th, soon ridden, went 4th approaching 3 out, soon weakened, went 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 6, 47l behind King Of Castile (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gd in May.
Blue Jet (USA) 33-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led approaching 6th, soon headed, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Zelos Diktator (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Apr, 18 ran.
Hypnotic Gaze (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, no impression from 2 out, 4th of 11, 8l behind Lion On The Prowl (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in May.
Kashubian Quest 33-1 (10-8) Behind, weakened approaching 3 out, soon detatched, last of 8, well behind Bucephalus (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Bet Noir (IRE) 5-2 (10-8) Held up, mistake 1st, raced keen, chased leaders, 3 out, weakened approaching next, 6th of 9, 14l behind Sacrilege (11-12) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Nov.