led, reminders 4th, headed 8th, chased leaders, ridden next, rallied to lead again bend before last, soon clear
pressed winner until 6th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened soon after 8th
reminders soon after start, ridden along off the pace in rear, hit 2nd, driven and headway to go close up 7th, outpaced 3 out, headway under pressure approaching last, went moderate 2nd flat
tracked leaders, led 8th, soon joined, ridden 2 out, headed bend before last, soon weakened
tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, joined leader soon after 8th, ridden to lead bend before last, soon headed, became very tired and nearly came to a walk flat, soon lost 2nd
Withdrawn
Great Esteem has found life tough since winning a novice event at Wincanton in 2010 but returned to winning ways when dropped into a claimer at Bangor last month and must have every chance here with McCoy in the saddle. The weights, however, point to BARNHILL BROWNIE as he will have needed his reappearance at Ascot. He's probably on the downgrade but it's still less than a year since he was contesting a Grade 3 handicap at Aintree's Grand National meeting. King Of Castile was only second in a Ludlow seller last time and will struggle to concede weight to his rivals.
King of Castile 7-4fav (11-5) Prominent, led 5th, driven next, headed 8th, chased winner after, well held from 3 out, 2nd of 11, 24l behind Hassadin (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 5f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd in Feb.
Barnhill Brownie (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Towards rear, reminders after 1st, headway from next, lost place after 6th, behind 8th, pulled up after, in a race won by Kasbadali (11-0) at Ascot 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd, 16 ran.
Sumak (FR) 13-2 (10-11) Held up towards rear, ridden after 7th, not fluent 2 out, no impression, 8th of 9, 18l behind Suprise Vendor (11-4) at Kelso 2m 2f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd.
Unwanted Gift (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led after 5th, ridden and headed narrowly 2 out, every chance between last 2, not fluent last, kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Extremely So (10-13) at Stratford 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Lilac Belle 15-2 (11-2) Held up in last pair in touch, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off from next, 8th of 9, well behind Naughtyatiz (10-2) at Stratford 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Great Esteem (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leader, led 4 out, strongly challenged last, kept on well under pressure, won at Bangor 2m 1f clm hdl (5) gd in Mar beating Sweet World (11-1) by nk, 5 ran.
Moonstreaker 40-1 (11-2) Led and soon well clear, jumped right and some mistakes, came back to others 7th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 35l behind Copsehill Girl (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
