chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, outpaced 2 out, went 3rd flat
held up in rear, headway 5th, dropped rear approaching 12th, struggled on
made all, hit 5th and 10th, hard ridden approaching last, stayed on flat
always towards rear, hit 11th, lost touch after next, tailed off
chased leaders, lost place 5th, mistake 9th, {} in touch again 11th, ridden after 3 out, 3rd and weakening when hit last
held up in rear, hit 8th, headway 10th, chased winner approaching 4 out until 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, fell 4th
chased winner until approaching 4 out and again from 2 out, soon ridden, challenging approaching last, rider dropped whip flat, held towards finish
swerved right start, raced wide, pulled hard in mid-division, headway 7th, blundered and weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
Tim Vaughan's CITY AFFAIR lost no caste in defeat behind Bob Hall in his first start in a hunter chase at Ludlow last month and a reproduction of the form shown that day may suffice in this company so he is taken to resume winning ways, getting the verdict ahead of The Accordion Man and Paradise Bay. The last mentioned has the beating of Little Rocker on their running behind Craiglands at Sedgefield last month and a similar run would see Nick Kent's gelding go close here. Clever Nora lacks any experience of rules racing but has been running well in point-to-points so has to be respected, while Caraman needs to improve on what he has been showing between the flags to trouble the judge. The Accordion Man has shown improved form in points of late and has to be respected back under rules but preference is for City Affair, who should be too classy for his rivals.
Little Rocker (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Held up, behind from 10th, left modest 4th approaching last, 4th of 11, 36l behind Craiglands (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hts chs (6) gf in Apr.
Caraman (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Prom til outpcd 4 out; 3rd & btn when ur 2 out, in a race won by Clever Nora (11-7) at Charm Park 3m ptp in Apr, 12 ran.
City Affair 5-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 9th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on again flat, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Bob Hall (11-10) at Ludlow 2m 4f amat chs (5) gd in Apr.
Lazzari (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Led 7 til hdd 3 out; no ex nxt, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Torksey Lock (12-0) at Thorpe Lodge 3m ptp in Apr.
Mr Goofy (IRE) 11-1 (12-0) Prominent, raced wide, lost place approaching 3rd, headway 4 out, every chance 2 out, went right last, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Farmer Frank (12-0) at Towcester 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd in Apr.
Paradise Bay (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) In rear, headway 8th, driven and one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Craiglands (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hts chs (6) gf in Apr.
Stormy Bay (IRE) 7-2 (12-5) Lost tch aft 13; to & pu 3 out, in a race won by Passport Control (12-5) at Whittington 3m ptp in Apr, 9 ran.
The Accordion Man (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) (tt) led to 3; led app 2 out; drvn; all out, won at Cold Harbour 3m ptp beating Olival (12-0) by 1/2l, 3 ran.
Takotna (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Nvr on terms, 5th of 8, 30l behind Xila Fontenailles (11-7) at Stafford Cross 3m ptp in Apr.
Clever Nora (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Ap; led app last; drew clr flat, won at Charm Park 3m ptp in Apr beating Beauchamp Oracle (12-0) by 3l, 12 ran.
