tracked winner to 8th, remained in touch, headway to go 2nd again before 3 out, ridden and effort when hung right next, kept on until hung left and no impression flat
held up in 3rd, chased winner 8th to before 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened next
set steady pace, made all, quickened halfway, shaken up approaching 3 out, ridden and kept on well from next
held up in rear, driven and effort to go 3rd before 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next, no chance with leading pair
Nonrunner
Provided Paradise Bay is over his exertions of Perth on Sunday, he can make amends over a trip 2 furlongs further than Sunday's distance. Racing off the same mark as Sunday, Paradise Bay was a very easy winner on his penultimate start, albeit in what was quite a poor contest. If a concern did exist it would be the easing ground conditions. Rimsky Korsakov was disappointing last time when under pressure a long way from home. His second placing behind Doris's Gift off a 9lb lower mark leaves him in with a shout and stamina appears to be his forte. Chickapeakray is a consistent sort and another whose stamina is his strong point. He reverts to hurdles for the first time since January. Support for Michaels Dream would be significant, however, he has been badly out of form of late but is off an attractive mark. Paradise Bay is selected to win this handicap hurdle.
Paradise Bay (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Mid-division, going well and headway to track winner approaching 2 out, soon ridden, weakened from last, 3rd of 11, 10l behind English City (10-6) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Michaels Dream (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Led to 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 25l behind The Babe Magnet (9-13) at Cartmel 3m 2f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Rimsky Korsakov (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Towards rear, lost touch halfway, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by No Panic (11-5) at Cartmel 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in May, 7 ran.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Held up, headway 4 out, hampered next, stayed on flat, led close home, won at Fontwell 2m 6f sll hdl (5) gf in May beating Little Rort (10-13) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Chickapeakray 7-1 (9-10) Always in touch, hung left after 4 out, one pace approaching last, 4th of 11, 6l behind Gypsy George (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs (2) gs in May.
