in touch, driven and lost place after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
tracked leader, left in lead, challenged 3 out, ridden and stayed on well from next
held up in touch, went 2nd 9th, challenged 3 out, kept on and every chance until ridden and once pace when hung right between last 2, lost place last, no extra
held up, headway and in touch 9th, driven and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, headway to track leading pair approaching 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd last, ridden last, not reach winner
led until fell 8th
held up in touch, hampered 8th, driven and outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Nonrunner
SPRING BREEZE can register back-to-back successes here and he is nominated over Grand Bay and Basoda. The selection was a comfortable winner at Aintree last month when he stayed-on really strongly at the finish and with conditions very much to his liking this proven stayer looks to have a great chance going in again. Grand Bay has ability and he will have no problems with the trip, but he is far from straightforward and if this gets into a battle then he could be found wanting. Basoda has yet to complete in three attempts in this sphere and that is a big cause for concern, but if he can sort his jumping out then he would not be without a chance. Hi Dancer has gone well here in the past but he has yet to prove himself over this trip. Course and distance winner Quay Meadow is another worth a mention, but in an open event the vote goes to Spring Breeze.
Basoda 10-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 8th, chasing leaders when fell 14th, in a race won by Gidam Gidam (11-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Spring Breeze 15-2 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leading pair before next, left 2 lengths 2nd 2 out, ridden to lead before last, stayed on, won at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating Fourty Acers (11-6) by 4l, 11 ran.
Hi Dancer 8-1 (10-0) Behind until ridden, kept on from 2 out, nearest finish, 4th of 12, 7l behind Glingerbank (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Follow On 40-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, 7th of 12, 29l behind Whisky Magic (11-9) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Grand Bay (USA) 3-1 (11-3) Held up in last, raced keenly, not fluent 1st or 4th, headway after 9th, pushed along and disputing 2nd 2 out, soon hard ridden and lugged right, switched right and weakened flat, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Orchard King (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
Solway Bee 14-1 (10-3) Towards rear, struggling 9th, never dangerous, 8th of 15, 30l behind Daraz Rose (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Quay Meadow (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) In touch, driven and outpaced after 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, no impression, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Kings Guard (11-3) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Mar.
Indian Pipe Dream (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up, weakened when pulled up before 5th, in a race won by Viscount Rossini (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Solway Minstrel 5-1 (11-7) Narrow leader, raced keenly, ridden and headed after 3 out, beaten when jumped left last, kept trying flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Orchard King (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
