held up towards rear, mistake 6th, headway before 4 out, 2nd from 2 out, led last, headed flat, held close home
chased leaders on inside, disputing 2nd when mistake 2 out, soon beaten, one pace flat
held up and behind, mistake 2nd, hit 6th, lost touch after 9th, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden 9th, mistake 4 out, weakening when mistake next
towards rear, pushed along 2nd, never on terms, well beaten from 3 out
led, ridden before 9th, headed last, led again flat, stayed on gamely
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st or 9th, outpaced approaching 4 out, weakened next
tracked winner until before 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
held up, headway on outside 7th, 2nd 4 out, lost place 2 out
Next Sensation, Foundation Man and The Geegeez Geegee all appear best watched at present but the only course winner in the line-up, Purple 'n Gold, has to go on the short-list again after returning to winning ways at Haydock. Tara Road is useful when the fences don't get in the way, as he showed at Bangor in March, while Gone Too Far won in this grade at Exeter earlier in the month, though is still taking risks with his jumping. AL ALFA (NAP) may be the percentage call reunited with Richard Johnson after a fair run last time at Newton Abbot – he's been dropped another 2lb since. Skylander looks his stable's second string and Presenting Arms has a bit to prove off his current mark.
Presenting Arms (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, unable to go with front pair before 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 4, 13 1/4l behind Fox Norton (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Apr.
Purple 'n Gold (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 8th, mistake and lost place next, not fluent 10th, closed 4 out, challenged next, stayed on flat, led close home, won at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in May beating Ballybogey (11-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Next Sensation (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, took keen hold, mistake 4th, closed 6th, soon steadied, blundered 10th, well beaten after 3 out, fell last, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Gone Too Far 11-4fav (11-6) Chased leaders, bumped 1st, went 2nd and closed before 8th, led 4 out, pecked 2 out, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gf in May beating Such A Legend (11-1) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Skylander (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Not always fluent, held up in rear, well beaten from 3 out, 8th of 11, dist behind Ashcott Boy (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in May.
Al Alfa 20-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, driven after 4 out, ridden and outpaced by front pair after next, lost 3rd 2 out, no impression after, 4th of 9, 11 1/4l behind Art Mauresque (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in May.
Tara Road 9-2 (11-4) Held up, steady headway chasing leaders 9th, pushed along in 4th after 3 out, went 2nd under pressure between last two, every chance when not fluent last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Mezendore (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Foundation Man (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 30 1/4l behind Milgen Bay (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
The Geegeez Geegee (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, headway 5 out, chased front pair before next, never on terms, well held from next, lost modest 3rd before last, 4th of 11, 27l behind Brownville (11-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Apr.
