close up and keen early, led before 2nd, went right 8th, headed before 4 out, soon pushed along and lost position, awkward 3 out, ridden before a tired just at last, kept one pace run-in, finished a well held fourth
held up, briefly dropped to last before 4 out, ridden when went third after 2 out, took second just before final fence, kept on but no chance with winner
led, nodded on landing 1st, headed before 2nd but remained close up, dropped to third heading out on second circuit, hit 6th, rallied to go second again when ridden 2 out, beaten when dropped to third final fence, weakened on run-in
held up, not fluent 1st and 3rd, pushed along before 4 out, soon outpaced, ridden before 2 out, gradually weakened
close up, chased leader heading out on second circuit, led 4 out, jumped left 3 out, wandered when clear approaching last, ridden out final 110 yards, comfortable
NonRunner
KAUTO THE KING won this last year and is only 2lb higher. He needs to find his form again but the quicker ground will help. Courtland is very well treated returning to action and is worth a market check while Balko Saint has placed at Wincanton and Kempton this year. Umndeni has a lot to prove nowadays while Ragamuffin’s stable is struggling for winners at present.
Kauto The King (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, lost place before 5th, well beaten after 8th, 10th of 11, dist behind Raffle Ticket (11-10) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in May.
Balko Saint (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, ridden along before 3 out, pushed along to lead before 2 out, headed before last, ran on flat, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Hidden Depths (11-1) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Umndeni (FR) 14-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway 7th, lost place 3 out, 9th of 12, dist behind Judicial Law (11-7) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in May.
Ragamuffin (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, not that fluent and often jumped left, struggling and behind 3 out, last of 7, dist behind Blueberry Wine (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Courtland (IRE) 16-1 (11-13) Towards rear, jumped left at times, never involved, well beaten from 4 out, 6th of 9, 21 3/4l behind Not Sure (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Sholsang (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Mid-division and 10th halfway, pushed along and mistake 3 out, soon no extra, 12th of 15, dist behind Favorite Moon (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 3f mdn Good - Yielding in Sep.
