held up, weakened approaching 3 out
chased clear leader, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, weakened after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, mistake 5th, ridden after next, weakened 2 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on from last
chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led and mistake last, all out
mid-division, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out
held up, steady headway 3 out, ridden 2 out, switched left after last, stayed on well flat, nearest finish
led, soon clear, ridden 2 out, headed approaching next, no extra
held up, mistake 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up mid-division, steady headway from 4 out, ridden next, no impression
Lease Lend has arguably the most convincing recent form and, as such, gets the nod over O'Sogood and Kilcannon Supreme. Others to monitor in the betting include: Lambrini Leader and Jumeirah Jane, who appear to be the best hopes from their respective yards. However, both need to find improvement and face stiff tests today. Kilcannon Supreme was not beaten far in a better race than this at Wincanton last month, so has to be respected on that effort alone. Any cut in the ground will not be a problem for this son of Supreme Leader and Peter Bowen's charge looks sure to be involved in the thick of the action. O'Sogood waded through the mud to win a bumper here in January and obviously likes a test of stamina. He will encounter very different conditions this afternoon, so has a bit to prove. Therefore, it can pay to stick with Lease Lend, who showed an aptitude for hurdling last time out and is expected to be a lot sharper now that he has experience on his side.
Bal Birnie 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, went 2nd over 5f out, ridden and every chance over 2f out, hung left and no extra final furlong, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Breaking Storm (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn nhf (6) gf in Jun.
Curran (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 11th of 13, 36l behind Cash Man (10-5) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf.
Fol Esprit (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, closer order approaching 3 out, no impression when slightly hampred next, 13th of 20, 46l behind Thyne Again (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m mdn hdl gs in Dec '05.
Grey Eagle White Sorrel gelding out of winning miler Mam'zelle Angot.
Kilcannon Supreme (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 3f out, 6th of 14, 17l behind I'msingingtheblues (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Lambrini Leader (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Not fluent in mid-division, ridden 3 out, outpaced next, 8th of 16, 17l behind Jass (11-0) at Kelso 2m nh mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Lease Lend 6-4jt-fav (10-12) Held up, mistake 5th, headway 7th, went 2nd 3 out, no extra after last, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Oxford de Lagarde (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Lewis's World 40-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, lost place over 3f out, soon outpaced, 7th of 14, 14l behind Charlie Crab (10-11) at Newcastle 2m mdn nhf (6) gf.
O'Sogood (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) In touch, led over 4f out, clear over 2f out, wandered over 1f out, driven out, won at Wetherby 1m 6f nhf (5) hvy in Jan beating Brave Brigadier (10-7) by 11l, 14 ran.
Red O'Donnell (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened, 14th of 18, 46l behind Silly Wupple (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf (4) gd in Oct.
Sea Venture (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, weakened well over 2f out, 9th of 17, 29l behind Abstinence (10-1) at Wetherby 2m nhf (6) gf in Apr.
Westgate (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Held up and keen, close up when mistake 4th, weakened from 7th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Balamory Dan (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs, 14 ran.
Jumeirah Jane 14-1 (10-5) Chased leader until after 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 13, 23l behind Owlesbury Dream (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Treacle Moon 7-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader over 5f out, weakened 3f out, 10th of 18, 24l behind It's A Discovery (10-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f mrs nhf (6) gd in Oct.
