held up, mistake 3rd, under pressure 5 out, soon weakened
with leader, led 3 out, headed before next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
keen in mid-division, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, ridden 4 out, some headway 2 out, never on terms
behind, mistake 5 out, never dangerous
led until 3 out, weakened before next, behind when blundered last
chased leaders, smooth progress 3 out, led approaching next, drew clear last, impressive
keen, tracked leaders, joined leader just after 3 out, ridden next, weakened before last
behind, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, kept on into 3rd after 2 out, never able to challenge, modest 3rd
prominent early, soon mid-division, ridden 4 out, weakened after next
Bill And Barn has won a couple of times between the flags and showed promise in a couple of bumpers last year, though hasn't raced for a while. Paul Nicholls also runs Coup De Pinceau, who was second at Kempton last November on his only start over timber. Alphabet Bay was runner-up to a decent sort here in April last year but hasn't been seen since. Flemcara still has time on his side but the interesting one may be SAM BROWN (NAP), who beat a subsequent Grade 2 winner in a bumper here on debut and followed up under a penalty at Newbury in a race that has also worked out well.
Alphabet Bay (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, led until 4th, mostly chased winner after until 2 out, rallied into modest 2nd again run-in, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Zubayr (11-1) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gs in Apr.
Coup De Pinceau (FR) 9-4 (10-12) Tracked leader, tracked winner from 2nd until after 3rd, tracked leaders, pushed along and 2nd again 2 out,soon driven and one pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Lough Derg Spirit (10-12) at Kempton 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Diamond Benny (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Always behind, 5th of 9, dist behind The Welsh Paddies (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Flemcara (IRE) 11-8fav (11-2) Tracked leader after 2nd, hung left from before 2 out, ridden and held between last 2, lost 2nd at the last, weakened run-in, 5th of 8, 12l behind King Uther (11-2) at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Mar.
Friary Gold (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Towards rear and not fluent 1st and 2nd, progress into mid-division after 4th, 8th after 3 out and ridden in 6th after next, no impression in 5th from last, 5th of 14, 10 1/2l behind Bhutan (11-6) at Tipperary 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Jul.
Garrane (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, 12th of 13, dist behind Chosen Path (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) gd in Oct.
Pistol Shoot (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked winner, ridden before and not fluent 3 out, hit last, one pace, 2nd of 0, 21l behind Mon Palois (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gf in Oct.
Red River (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Ld, 4l adv 1/2way, wo 3out, jnd & hdd 2out, 2l dwn when left clr last, b hmprd aftr last & hdd cl hm, unlucky, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind First Assignment (11-11) at Belclare 3m mdn gs in Apr.
Sam Brown 9-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, led going well over 3f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, driven out, won at Newbury 2m (5) sft in Mar beating Chef Des Obeaux (11-2) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
The Ogle Gogle Man (IRE) 7-2 (12-2) Chsd ldrs & restrained in 3rd, 4th bef 3out, ld aftr 2out & alw gng best aftr, eased cl hme, won at Bartlemy 3m mdn gd in May beating De Name Evades Me (12-2) by 4l, 12 ran.
The Pooler (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden 4f out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, dist behind Forgot To Ask (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (6) gd in Apr.
Bill And Barn (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Led 2f, chased leaders, outpaced over 3f out, ran on inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Gustave Mahler (11-12) at Aintree 2m 1f (3) gf in May.
Waitinonasunnyday (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Chsd ldrs, 4th & mstk 6th, gng well 6out, 4th bef 3out, wknd bef 2out, 6th of 9, 13 1/4l behind Reasonable Doubt (11-11) at Dromahane 3m mdn in May.
Madame Claud 66-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, never a factor, 10th of 12, 27 3/4l behind Betsalottie (10-8) at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (6) sft in Oct.
