held up in last pair, headway chasing leaders 11th, 2nd travelling well 4 out, upsides and slight stumble 2 out, looked held when mistake last, no extra run-in
raced wide tracking leader until 3rd, 2nd again 7th, hit 10th, lost 2nd approaching 4 out, one pace in 3rd when edged left from 3 out
held up in 5th, headway 12th, outpaced 3 out, plugged on
made all, clear 4 out, joined 2 out, ridden before last two, stayed on to assert run-in
always in rear
chased leaders, 2nd approaching 4th until 7th, chased leaders, weakening when mistake 3 out
held up in 6th, struggling after 12th, tailed off when blundered last, never involved
chased leaders, 2nd 3rd until approaching next, chased leaders, weakened after 12th
Mick Easterby had a double on this card 12 months ago with Shadows Lengthen winning this as a 20/1 chance. But the nine-year-old finished well behind runner-up FIRTH OF THE CLYDE at Ayr in the spring and a 4lb turnaround in the weights may not be enough to reverse the form. Malcolm Jefferson's charge is probably the one to beat on that form as this looks his trip nowadays and he handles all types of going. Paul Nicholls won this in 2011 but top weight Fago has had his problems. Theatre Guide hasn't run since the National meeting at Aintree in April while Wakanda also returns from a break. Pumped Up Kicks and Mountain King are worth a second look, however, while it's about time Off The Ground was enjoying a change of luck and he's handicapped to go close.
Fago (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway after 11th, never on terms, weakened before 5 out, pulled up after, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Theatre Guide (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Mid-division, hampered 12th (canal turn), outpaced when hampered by loose horse and unseated rider approaching 3 out, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Mountain King 11-2fav (11-1) Held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 13, 20 1/4l behind Anay Turge (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in May.
Wakanda (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Led narrowly to 3rd, remained prominent, lost place before 4 out, soon beaten, stayed on to take modest 4th before last, no chance with leaders, 4th of 9, dist behind Saphir Du Rheu (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gd in Apr.
Firth Of The Clyde 12-1 (11-3) Held up and behind, headway approaching 11th, 3rd 2 out, 2nd at the last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Presenting Junior (10-6) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Off The Ground (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Pressed leader, mistake 3rd, led after 6th, headed when fell 2 out, at Warwick 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Shadows Lengthen 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division on inside, headway to get in behind leaders 9th, pushed along and struggling towards rear after 14th, 10th of 13, 24 3/4l behind Presenting Junior (10-6) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Pumped Up Kicks (IRE) 9-2fav (10-9) Mid-division, headway 8th, hampered 10th, outpaced 3 out, went 4th and stayed on flat, no impression on winner, 4th of 14, 12 3/4l behind Brave Spartacus (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gd in Jul.
