chased winner 2nd until 4th, weakened quickly after 6th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 9th
held up, ridden and headway approaching 9th, chased winner 3 out until 2 out, 3rd and beaten when not fluent last
always behind, tailed off from 7th, pulled up before last
raced wide, held up, headway approaching 3 out, jumped left last, never near leaders
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, behind from 8th, tailed up when pulled up before 3 out
made all, clear approaching 3 out, ran on well
prominent until pecked 6th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, outpaced after 9th, stayed on to go 2nd approaching 2 out, no impression on winner
mid-division, mistake 7th, headway approaching 9th, 5th when stumbled and fell 2 out
took keen hold in rear, headway approaching 7th, chased winner 9th until 3 out, weakening when hampered 2 out
always towards rear, mistake 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
took keen hold and held up, headway 4th, chased winner 8th until 9th, beaten when fell 3 out
behind from 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, weakened after 9th, behind when pulled up before 2 out
chased winner 4th untll 8th, weakened next
Nonrunner
Dubai Ace gets the call here ahead of Grey Tune, Colnside Brook, Like A Lord, Internationalguest and Hi Tech Man. The selection won at Huntingdon last time, clearly appreciating the step up in trip. He's up in trip again today but connections feel confident that it will suit, and that's good enough for us - and his form in relation to the others certainly is. Grey Tune also won last time, defying an absence in the process and it is conceivable that a further step up in trip will bring about further improvement, so he gets plenty of respect. Colnside Brook's third to Supreme Piper two runs ago gives him a solid chance, while the balance of the form of Seeador's last four runs puts him firmly in the shake-up. The Sue Smith-trained Like A Lord has shown enough to suggest that he can land a race of this nature, and you know that he should have improvement in him, while Internationalguest has more than enough ability judged on three Flat wins from a highest rating of 83 to be considered here, although each of those victories was gained on at least soft going. He will also have to put a disappointing hurdling debut behind him but cannot be dismissed from the equation. First-time headgear saw Hi Tech Man show improvement on just his second run last time and he too has to be given some thought, but the overall vote goes to Dubai Ace.
Grey Tune (IRE) 50-1 (10-2) Held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out, won at Hereford 2m 3f nov hdl (E) gf beating Boulevardofdreams (10-12) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Dubai Ace (USA) 11-4 (10-12) Held up in touch, improved 3 out, soon chasing leading pair, driven to lead flat, won at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn hdl (E) gf beating Festive Chimes (9-12) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Call of the Seas (IRE) 80-1 (10-4) Held up, lost touch from 5th, 5th of 7, well behind State of Play (11-0) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hdl (E) gf.
Hi Tech Man (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 7th, every chance when mistake 3 out, soon ridden, edged left flat, no extra, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Caspers Case (11-2) at Worcester 3m mdn hdl (E) gd.
Internationalguest (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Close up, ridden 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 11, 47l behind Dubai Ace (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn hdl (E) gf.
Like A Lord (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 6th, weakened approching 3 out, 6th of 15, 23l behind Blue Hawk (10-3) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd.
Mr Eye Popper (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Mid-division, lost place 5th, no danger after, 10th of 18, 39l behind Gracilis (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn hdl (E) gd in Apr '04.
Seeador 9-2 (10-13) Led, not fluent 1st, ridden and headed after 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Lawyer Des Ormeaux (11-2) at N Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (E) gf.
Thiseldo Us 66-1 (10-5) Ridden approaching 4th, always behind, 12th of 17, well behind Burning Truth (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f sll hdl (G) gf in May.
Benny 40-1 (10-4) Held up in touch, headway and mistake 4th, chased winner after 5th, mistake 3 out, soon lost 2nd and weakened, 7th of 15, 31l behind Buena Vista (11-3) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (C) gf.
Royal Upstart 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hampered 5th, soon weakened, 9th of 12, well behind Norma Hill (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 3yo mdn hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Colnside Brook 17-2 (10-12) In touch, went 2nd after 6 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 8, 36l behind Topanberry (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (E) gf.
Days of Gold 66-1 (10-11) Always behind, tailed off 5f out when pulled up in race won by Fibre Optics (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (H) gd in Jul, 11 ran.
Oso Tilley 14-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 7th, one pace from 3 out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 12, 10l behind Buddy Girie (11-7) at Cartmel 3m 2f mdn hts chs (H) gd in May.
Scolboa Arctic (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Led to halfway, weakened over 4f out, last of 9, well behind Zumrah (11-1) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf (H) gd.
Slave's Adventure 33-1 (11-9) pulled up in race won by Mister Bruce (12-0) at Chaddesley Corb' 3m ptp gf in May, 10 ran.
Dunston Durgam (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened after 6th, tailed off, 13th of 17, well behind Burning Truth (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f sll hdl (G) gf in May.
