keen hold in rear, jumped slowly 6th and soon lost touch
towards rear, bumped 3rd, never dangerous
held up, headway 6th, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakening when mistake and slipped 2 out
in touch, mistake 6th, ridden after 4 out, not fluent 3 out and weakened
jumped right 3rd, lost touch 5th, pulled up 3 out
with winner throughout, mistake 6th, led approaching 3 out, went right and headed last, hard ridden and every chance flat, no extra
tracked leaders and keen, weakened 4 out
led, headed approaching 3 out, ridden when led again approaching last, driven out flat
Nonrunner
Watching Football can provide a topical finish to a day's racing which coincides with the first day of the European Finals. David Pipe's gelding ran out an impressive winner of a Fontwell bumper on his debut and has been found a decent opening to make a winning debut over obstacles. He was well backed at Fontwell and the first two pulled a long way clear of the remainder to suggest that the form is useful and he's sure to have been well schooled. Dangers appear to be thin on the ground with Battle Stations and The Snail the only viable alternatives. The latter drops back from three miles and should come on for his debut whilst the former has shown a fair level of form in three starts and should finish in the money again. The selection looked useful on his debut though and, as long as he takes to hurdling, Watching Football should take all the beating.
Favouring (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Raced keen, led after 1st, clear 4th to 5th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, well behind Weather Front (10-7) at Cartmel 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in May.
Hello You 6-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake 4th, ridden after next, no impression, 5th of 12, 34l behind Tot Of The Knar (10-5) at Worcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Optimus (USA) 33-1 (9-4) Reluctant and soon in rear, ran on inside final furlong, never a factor, 5th of 11, 6l behind Hatton Flight (8-7) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcap (4) gd in May (Flat).
Timetosteel (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) fell at the last in race won by Master Gladiator (11-12) at Navan 2m 6f mdn hdl frm in May, 27 ran.
Bristol Delauriere (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, ridden over 5f out, soon dropped rear, 9th of 12, 29l behind Goodwill Phil (11-0) at Worcester 2m nhf (6) gf in May.
Watching Football (IRE) 10-3jt-fav (10-11) Chased leader, led 4f out, shaken up over 2f out, quickened clear final furlong, comfortably, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nhf (6) gd in May beating Bob Run (10-6) by 3l, 13 ran.
Red Rocky 50-1 (9-11) Held up, pushed along approaching 3 out, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 23l behind Broke Road (11-6) at Ludlow 2m clm hdl (5) gd in Mar '06.
Runaround Sue (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Led, headed approaching 6th, led again 8th, headed approaching last, no extra towards finish, 4th of 13, 5l behind Apollo Creed (11-6) at Southwell 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Battle Stations 11-4 (11-1) Always prominent, every chance 2 out, one pace last, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Blackpool Billy (11-7) at Hexham 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Orvita (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, beaten when fell 2 out in race won by Nothing Is Forever (10-10) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in May, 15 ran.
The Snail 28-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, led 2nd, headed 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, 15l behind Cullahill (11-0) at Worcester 3m nov hdl (4) gf in May.
