mid-division, slow 4th, under pressure 11th, weakened next, behind when pulled up before 5 out
held up, slow 3rd, headway to chase leaders 5 out, 2nd next, weakening when mistake last, no extra flat
soon led, headed when hit 5 out, soon beaten
mid-division, headway 6 out, led after next, challenged 3 out, drew clear last, stayed on strongly
in rear when fell 6th
prominent, weakened 5 out, pulled up next
held up in rear, headway halfway, weakened 4 out, pulled up after 2 out
in touch when fell 5th
mid-division, blundered 13th, headway to chase leaders 4 out, stayed on into 2nd after last, no chance with winner
in touch, weakened 11th, completely tailed off from 5 out, remote 5th
The veteran SILVER TASSIE may not have won for some time but was beaten less than a length in a three-way finish over course and distance last time. He may prove the answer to this given he also finished in front of Absolutely Dylan when placed here earlier, though the latter was having his first outing since March and better is expected. Boa Island has undergone wind surgery since last in action and debuts for new connections while both of the latter comments also apply to Ice Cool Champs. De Forgotten One and Eclair De Guye won their penultimate starts though neither figured last time while Valadom and Above Board continue to struggle.
Boa Island (IRE) 28-1 (12-4) Tracked leader, led 7th, headed 7 out, outpaced from 5 out, plugged on to take 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, dist behind Wonderful Charm (12-4) at Doncaster 3m 2f (6) gd in Feb.
Silver Tassie (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Raced wide, held up in 4th, hit 12th, rallied 14th, 3rd after next, every chance when hit 3 out, driven and stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 4, 1/4l behind Bigirononhiship (11-1) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Valadom (FR) 9-4fav (11-12) Led, hesitated and headed 2nd, tracked leaders, not fluent and reminders 12th, ridden and struggling from 5 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Fr Humphrey (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Ice Cool Champs (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Pressed winner, outpaced from 14th, lost place before 4 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Captain Cattistock (11-8) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Above Board (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Behind, headway 3 out, weakened after next, 8th of 15, 29 1/4l behind Copperhead (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
De Forgotten One 7-2 (11-10) Led to 12th, hit 5 out, soon lost place, weakened 2 out, 5th of 8, 33l behind Lamanver Pippin (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Eclair De Guye (FR) 4-1fav (11-7) Prominent, with leader when stumbled 10th, pushed along and weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, 29 1/4l behind Domaine De L'Isle (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Absolutely Dylan (IRE) 17-2 (11-3) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, no impression from 3 out, 5th of 9, 18 1/2l behind Late Romantic (12-0) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Virnon 25-1 (10-8) Mistake and rider lost iron briefly 1st, mid-division, lost place and ridden 5th, jumped left and not fluent 8th, hampered next, well beaten before 4 out, 7th of 9, 21 3/4l behind Prairie Town (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Purple Harry 16-1 (11-3) Chased leader, reminders after 7th, not fluent next, lost place 9th, behind and struggling final circuit, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out, at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.