took keen hold, held up in touch, headway approaching 2 out, ridden to dispute 2nd last, weakened flat
chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden and hung left before last, no impression flat
led, hit 4th, ridden and hard pressed before last, headed and not quickened flat
held up, hit 5th, soon struggling, tailed off
always behind, no chance when blundered 3 out
took keen hold, jumped poorly in rear, lost touch 5th, soon tailed off and pulled up before last
chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, to before 2 out, weakened
Papini ran too badly to be true in the Fred Winter at the festival and may be worth another chance in this weaker race, where At Your Request and Star de Mohaison appear to be the main dangers. The selection went to the festival having shown decent form in all three previous starts most notably when giving 7lbs and a half-length beating to At Your Request at Newbury. The Ian Williams-trained gelding reversed that form with a fine second at the festival but Papini was so disappointing there that the Fred Winter run of Nicky Henderson's gelding is probably best ignored. Baranook ran with promise on his hurdling debut at Chepstow last month but needs to improve on that effort to get involved here and a bigger threat may come from the Paul Nicholls-trained Star de Mohaison. The ex-French gelding lost no caste in defeat behind subsequent impressive Aintree winner Mighty Man at Hereford last time and there may be more to come but Papini has an obvious chance on the pick of his form and in the hope that Nicky Henderson's gelding can reproduce that he is given the vote.
At Your Request 33-1 In touch, headway to lead 3 out, headed last, stayed on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 24, 8l behind Dabiroun at Cheltenham 2m 3yo hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Star De Mohaison (FR) 5-2 Always prominent, led 3 out until 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Mighty Man at Hereford 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Feb.
Papini (IRE) 10-1 In touch, lost place on inside approaching 5th, soon weakened, 23rd of 24, well behind Dabiroun at Cheltenham 2m 3yo hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Baranook (IRE) 16-1 Held up behind clear leaders, headway 4th, chased winner from 3 out, kept on flat, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Prato at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (E) sft in Mar.
Dumfries 100-1 Never better than mid-division, 7th of 15, 18l behind Admiral at Market Rasen 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (D) gd.
Hermitage Court (USA) 25-1 Always behind, 12th of 17, 7l behind Granston at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp (D2) gf in Sept (Flat).
Nautic (FR) 20-1 Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened after next, 5th of 12, 18l behind Charlton Kings at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (E) gd in Mar.
Openide 9-2 Mid-division, weakened after 5th, 7th of 15, 43l behind United at Stratford 2m 4yo nov hdl (C) sft in Mar.
Smart Boy Prince (IRE) 33-1 Led, not fluent 5th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, still close 3rd when hit last, no extra, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Rhapsody Rose at Towcester 2m 4yo nov hdl (D) gs in Mar.
