prominent, not fluent and reminder 2nd, stumbled 8th, led 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, mistake 2 out, no extra
prominent, led and dived through 2nd, headed 4 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 12th, jumped left and led 3 out, headed 2 out, one pace in 3rd flat
chased leaders, ridden after 11th, lost place after 13th, well beaten approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out,
mid-division, closed from 10th, pushed along before 3 out, challenging when not fluent last, led flat, stayed on
led until 2nd, prominent, ridden after 12th, lost place after 13th, well beaten 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway on outside 13th, challenging when bumped 3 out, led when not fluent 2 out, mistake last, edged right and headed flat, stayed on
held up in rear, headway after 13th, beaten 3 out, no extra next
Royal Supremo won easily at Southwell but this is much tougher and he’s been raised 10lb. OPENING BATSMAN (NAP) is preferred as he looks to have fallen far enough down the weights to end a long losing run and went close over course and distance on his latest outing when well ahead of third-placed Mine's A Pint. Harry Fry’s charge gets the vote to go one better in this. Bally Longford also finished runner-up over these fences on his latest start though was six lengths behind the winner while Poker School was placed again when third at Ludlow recently but hasn’t won since 2016 now.
Bally Longford (IRE) 14-1 (12-1) Tracked leaders, slow and lost place 2nd, mistake 6th, headway 11th, one pace 3 out, kept on flat, went 2nd near finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Enola Gay (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 7-2fav (11-6) Led, hard pressed from 2 out, headed flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Deauville Dancer (11-13) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Zaliapour (FR) 28-1 (10-12) Chased leaders in 4th, outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching last, never a threat, last of 4, 9 1/4l behind The Last Day (10-12) at Carlisle 2m (3) hvy in Mar.
Royal Supremo (IRE) 7-2jfav (12-0) In touch, went 2nd from 9th, led 3 out, ran on strongly, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug beating Old Pride (11-7) by 16l, 10 ran.
Poker School (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Led, jumped left, headed and bumped 8th, lost 2nd when not much room and pecked 4 out, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 5, 8 3/4l behind Ballywood (11-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Turtle Wars (FR) 6-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, outpaced before 4 out, no threat after, 5th of 10, 14 3/4l behind Bob Mahler (11-3) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Mine's A Pint 9-2 (10-4) Chased leaders, lost place after 4th, headway 8th, went 2nd 13th, every chance when mistake 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 7, 17 3/4l behind Deauville Dancer (11-13) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Un Beau Roman (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Cap Du Nord (11-8) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
