chased leading pair until weakened approaching 3 out
chased clear leader, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra
held up, weakened after 7th
in touch, went 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, led approaching last, soon clear, eased towards finish
held up, ridden approaching 7th, headway 3 out, challenged for 3rd 2 out, soon weakened
held up, ridden after 7th, headway 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, soon weakened
led, soon clear, headed and ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Players Please showed a decent level of form on the flat for Mark Johnston, has run encouragingly in his last two starts over hurdles for Andy Haynes and he has to be respected off what looks a potentially favourable mark but it is hard to get away from PASSATO, who is taken to follow up his course and distance success of last week with Fly With The Stars rated the main danger. The selection escapes a penalty for his win here which came in a conditional jockeys handicap hurdle and, having won that by an easy 10 lengths, he is hard to oppose. Jimmy Frost's Cherryficial has been well held in two recent starts and is hard to recommend, while Jamie Snowden's Lady Friend got no further than the second flight at Wincanton last time but had been well beaten in three starts prior to that and he looks best watched. David Pipe's Fly With The Stars has shown little sign of ability in four starts over timber but is attractively weighted despite being 6lbs out of the handicap proper. Passato has an obvious chance following his success last week though and he is taken to win again.
Players Please (USA) 85-40 (10-11) Led, blundered 5th and headed, ridden 3 out, soon no chance, 3rd of 9, 22l behind Classic Swain (10-4) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Passato (GER) 9-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 5th, led approaching 3 out, soon in command, hit 2 out, comfortably, won at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf beating Spirit Of Lake (10-11) by 10l, 16 ran.
Lady Friend 22-1 (10-8) Towards rear when brought down 2nd, in a race won by Weststern (10-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Tavalu (USA) 50-1 (11-3) Always behind, 8th of 14, 41l behind Super Ross (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 5f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd in Feb.
Fantastic Morning 100-1 (10-7) Held up, mistake 5th, always towards rear, 12th of 16, 39l behind Acapulco Bay (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Cherryficial (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, hit 2nd, ridden when hit 5th, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 9, 32l behind Dreams Jewel (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Apr.
Fly With The Stars (USA) 6-1 (9-11) Hampered 1st, mid-division, nudged along after 4th, soon lost place, no chance from 7th, 9th of 11, well behind Synonymy (10-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf.
Where Now Madame 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon struggling, 12th of 16, well behind Pearl (10-13) at Chepstow 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
