pulled hard, prominent, led 3 out, ridden flat, headed close home
chased leaders, pushed along after 5th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, ridden and hung left after 3 out, weakened approaching last
pulled hard, soon in touch, blundered 5th, weakened 3 out, mistake 2 out
led until after 2nd, remained prominent, ridden after 5th, slightly outpaced approaching last, rallied gamely flat, led close home
towards rear, reminder after 4th, well beaten afer next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
soon ridden along, headway after 2nd, weakened 5th, tailed off
held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner 2 out, ridden and hung left after last, soon every chance, kept on
chased leader, led after 2nd, headed and mistake 3 out, weakened after 2 out
Nonrunner
Massams Lane is bound to be popular with backers following his win in a novices' handicap at Fontwell last month but George Baker's five-year-old has a 7lb penalty to carry for that effort and preference is for QUEEN EXCALIBUR, who gets the verdict ahead of Pips Assertive Way. Tony Carroll's mare drops back in selling grade following a couple of below par efforts in better handicaps of late and she has to be considered. Oliver Sherwood's Global Strategy has dropped down to a decent mark but is hard to back with any confidence on recent form. Keith Goldsworthy's Silver Blue has been well held in recent starts over hurdles and on the flat, while Owain James ran promisingly at Stratford in August but has not reproduced the form in two starts since. The vote then goes to Bernard Llewellyn's Queen Excalibur, who has been running well in better company than this of late and she looks worth chancing dropped into a seller for the first time today.
Royaltea 18-1 (10-9) Held up, always behind, tailed off 3 out, 8th of 15, well behind Golden Run (11-0) at Southwell 2m 1f sll hcp hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Queen Excalibur 11-2 (10-7) Awkward and rider lost iron 1st, tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 4 out until last, no extra, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Gotontheluckyone (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f cond hcp chs 4yo+ (5) gs in Nov.
Silver Blue (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, jumped right 2nd, led briefly after 4 out, weakened 3 out, hard ridden when fell heavy 2 out, in a race won by Idarah (11-4) at Ludlow 2m sell hdl (4) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Just Mossie 33-1 (10-9) Led until ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, well behind Benetwood (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gd.
Pips Assertive Way 22-1 (11-1) Led, headed after 5th, ridden approaching 2out, weakened before last, 6th of 12, 19l behind Miss Ladybird (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) gf.
Global Strategy 28-1 (10-12) Mid-division, under pressure before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Wardington Lad (11-7) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar, 17 ran.
Slayer 33-1 (10-12) Jumped slowly, detached from 3rd, stumbled and pulled up approaching 3 out, in a race won by Dontpaytheferryman (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 4yo nov clm hdl (5) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Blue Hills 40-1 (10-2) Held up, reminders 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Tigu (11-9) at Southwell 2m 5f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in May, 9 ran.
Magpie (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, pulled hard, slightly hampered 4th, headway next, racing awkwardly when left 4th 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 17, 39l behind Bundle Up (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Colditz (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, pulled up before 3 out, tailed off, in a race won by Changing Lanes (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May, 13 ran.
Massams Lane 7-1 (10-12) Led to approaching 3rd, led after 6th, shaken up approaching 2 out, hard ridden approaching last, kept on well flat, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd beating Bankstair (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Monsieur (FR) 7-2fav (11-8) In touch, slightly hampered 4th, ridden on outside next, soon struggling, well beaten 3 out, mistake 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Bundle Up (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in May, 17 ran.
Timetoring 50-1 (10-9) Always behind, 13th of 18, well behind Waltham Abbey (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd in May.
Owain James 8-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, raced keenly, hit 2nd, headway under pressure into mid division after 5th, no impression when hampered 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Tooka (11-2) at Towcester 2m nov sell hdl (5) gd in May, 15 ran.
