slowly into stride, switched to stands side and held up in rear, ridden and effort 2f out, soon weakened
always prominent, ridden 2f out, led briefly over 1f out, soon headed and one pace final furlong
mid-division to 3f out
held up towards rear, ridden and headway from 2f out, led 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway on outside 2f out, ridden to go 2nd 1f out, stayed on well
in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out
behind, ridden over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong to be nearest finish
in touch, ridden and headway 2f out, one pace final furlong
in touch until ridden and weakened 1f out
in touch, led 3f out until headed 1f out, one pace final furlong
Didnt Tell My Wife has shown enough in his last two starts to suggest that a race of this nature would be within his compass and Chris Wall's gelding is taken to make the most of his favourable draw, with Smoothly Does It and Topton rated the main dangers. The selection lost no caste in defeat behind Nevada Desert under similar conditions at Thirsk two starts ago and off the same mark, he has an obvious chance from stall 10. David Evans team has been in good form this season but it is interesting that Jamie Spencer, who has ridden so many of his winners, rides Topton instead. Paul Howling's gelding has claims on his best form but faces no easy task from stall three and of more interest may be Smoothly Does It. The four-year-old has returned to the turf in decent form and has ground conditions to suit so is entitled to go close. The booking of Richard Quinn for The Fun Merchant takes the eye and he is another to consider along with Rod Millman's Leaping Brave but Didnt Tell My Wife deserves to get his head in front and is taken to do so.
Topton (IRE) 25-1 Slowly away, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 7th of 20, 7l behind San Antonio at Pontefract 1m hcp gd in Apr.
Leaping Brave (IRE) 8-1 Soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 15l behind Duelling Banjos at Folkestone 1m 2f hcp sft in Apr.
The Fun Merchant 12-1 Towards rear, headway when hampered over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 6th of 20, 6l behind San Antonio at Pontefract 1m hcp gd in Apr.
Smoothly Does It 10-3fav Mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, no impression, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Lockstock at Bath 1m hcp sft.
Didnt Tell My Wife 6-1fav Towards rear, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 20, 6l behind San Antonio at Pontefract 1m hcp gd in Apr.
The Gaikwar (IRE) 7-2jt-fav Slowly into stride, in touch, ridden 3f out, all out when hanging left approaching final furlong, 6th of 11, 5l behind Blue Empire at W'hampton 1m 1f app clm pol in Apr.
Game Guru 5-1 Keen in touch, ridden over 3f out, no impression from over 2f out, 5th of 9, 7l behind Gustavo at Leicester 1m 2f hcp gs in Apr.
Desert Hawk 14-1 Slowly into stride, always behind, last of 14, 18l behind All That And More at Bath 1m mdn stk gd in Apr.
