mid-division, headway halfway to chase leaders, effort 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out
towards rear, outpaced half way, headway under pressure 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, went second over 1f out, edged right and no impression on winner final furlong
dwelt, tracked leader, led half way, comfortably
led, headed halfway, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong
Proud Scholar makes the journey up from Pulborough with leading claims on last year's form, and gets the vote over Rio Reva and Turks Wood who have both shaped well recently. Amanda Perrett's team are coming good right now, and so it is hoped that Proud Scholar will be fit enough to come back with a bang. This daughter of Royal Academy shaped like a sure-fire future winner when chasing home Windscreamer on her Newbury debut last July, and followed that with a close sixth to the useful Almansoora at Salisbury in September. She will be campaigned at a higher level this summer if all goes to plan, and a winning return is very much on the cards based on recent gallop reports. Rio Reva has a knack of always finding one too good, but was only beaten in a photo last time at Thirsk, and with fitness assured, should be in the shake-up again. Turks Wood was well held by Three Wrens at Nottingham last time and the drop back in trip is not certain to suit him, while Windhover needs to improve on his latest run at the Yorkshire track where he was well beaten by Cashier. Proud Scholar sets the standard and is the pick.
Borsch (IRE) 100-1 (8-7) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, last of 15, well behind Kingdom of Dreams (8-9) at Hamilton 1m 1f mdn stk (5) gd.
Chairman Rick (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) In touch, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and one pace final furlong, 4th of 16, 7l behind Munsef (9-0) at Ripon 1m 1f 3yo mdn (5) gf.
Geordie Dancer (IRE) 28-1 (8-12) Mid-division, outpaced halfway, soon weakened, 11th of 15, 17l behind Drum Dance (8-12) at Thirsk 6f mdn aut stk (5) sft in Apr.
New England 50-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, always in rear, 10th of 13, 32l behind Auvergne (9-0) at Catterick 7f 3yo mdn (5) gs.
Turks Wood (IRE) 10-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 17, 1l behind Three Wrens (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp (5) gf.
Windhover 14-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 18, 6l behind Cashier (8-11) at Thirsk 1m mdn stk (5) gd.
Proud Scholar (USA) 5-2jt-fav (8-11) Tracked leaders on inner to over 2f out, soon one pace, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 16, 5l behind Almansoora (8-11) at Salisbury 7f 2yo mdn fll (D2) gd in Sept.
Rio Riva 7-4fav (9-0) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, chased winner final furlong, 2nd of 11, nk behind Tax Free (9-0) at Thirsk 7f 3yo mdn (5) gs in Apr.
