hit 1st, chased leaders on inside, led and hit 4th, blundered and headed 12th, chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, weakened 3 out
mid-division, weakened after 5 out
held up in rear, never a factor, outpaced and struggling before 3 out, some late minor headway, never involved
led, mistake and headed 4th, chased leaders on inside, pushed along after 13th, weakened after next
chased leaders, ridden and went 2nd 3 out, still plenty to do 3 out, ridden angled out and closer before next, led before last, stayed on strongly run-in
towards rear, headway out wide before 4 out, plugged on in modest 5th 2 out
towards rear, struggling when jumped slowly 11th, tailed off
raced on inside, never closer than mid-division
mid-division out wide, headway chasing leaders after 13th, weakened quickly next
held up off the pace in rear-division, headway on inside chasing leaders before 2 out, went 4th at the last, kept on run-in
chased leader, led 12th, clear before 3 out until headed before last, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
chased leaders out wide, went 2nd 12th until 3 out, plugged on in well held 3rd
A winner here in March, MIDNIGHT MIDGE was runner-up in this in 2021 and may have been aimed at the race again. He beat Huelgoat at Taunton last December and the latter is by no means certain to reverse the form on the revised terms. Another Crick, who won at Warwick in May, is also a previous course winner as are Ede‘iffs Elton and Flagrant Delitiep but this looks too short for Stormy Flight. Volkovka wasn’t beaten far at Ludlow in the spring but that was the first time she’d managed to place in four chase starts. Dibble Decker did well last season, however, and Alto Alto and Dreaming Blue are others who may have more to offer this term.
Dibble Decker (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) In touch, pushed along and headway 4 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 17l behind Annsam (12-2) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Another Crick 3-1fav (11-13) Chased leaders, jumped right 11th, outpaced next, rallied 2 out, led flat, soon clear, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May beating Across The Line (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Go Steady 7-2 (11-1) Handy, hit 11th, went 2nd home turn, ridden run-in, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Dom Of Mary (10-8) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Apr.
Stormy Flight (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Led, headed 3rd, tracked leaders, led again 9th, ridden and headed 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 7, 33l behind My Silver Lining (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Huelgoat (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Mid-division, outpaced after 7th, plugged on from 2 out, went 4th close home, never dangerous, 4th of 16, 21 1/2l behind Ike Sport (11-9) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Midnight Midge 3-1 (12-0) Led, headed before 4 out, not fluent 3 out, no extra 2 out, last of 6, 19 3/4l behind Petticoat Lucy (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Dreaming Blue 3-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, ridden along after 4 out, hit 3 out, went right 2 out, weakened, 5th of 8, 14 3/4l behind Hidden Depths (11-1) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Volkovka (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and pressed last, joined flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind La Renommee (11-9) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Alto Alto (FR) 2-1fav (11-8) Raced in 4th, jumped slowly and lost place 3rd, dropped to last when mistake 10th, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Small Bad Bob (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Ede'iffs Elton 9-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 3rd, pushed along and headed 4 out, ridden next, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 10 1/4l behind Animal (11-3) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Enjoy Your Life (FR) 11-1 (12-1) Held up towards rear of mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, driven along after next, weakened home turn, 7th of 10, 30 3/4l behind Gentleman Valley (11-12) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in May.
Flagrant Delitiep (FR) 15-2 (10-8) Prominent, mistake 7th, headway 3 out, soon ridden and dropped to 3rd, kept on same pace approaching last, weakened run-in, 4th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Sacre Coeur (11-7) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
