close up, ridden and lost place 5th, headway approaching 9th, pressed leader 4 out, hit next, ridden to challenge last, driven and stayed on to lead final stride
tracked leader, reminders 7th, lost place 8th, tailed off when pulled up soon after 4 out
tracked leader, led soon after 6th, hit next, ridden 2 out, pressed last, headed final stride
held up in touch, headway to leader 8th, weakened quickly 4 out, pulled up last
in rear, headway 9th, ridden to chase leading pair 3 out, hit next, plugged on
led, blundered 6th, soon headed, hit 8th soon in rear
held up, ridden 4 out, weakened next
Venetia Williams has several runners here today but EMPEROR'S CHOICE may be the pick if reproducing the form he showed when successful by 14 lengths at Southwell. That was only his fifth start over timber and there should be more to come from the top weight. Veteran Knight Legend may need this but Grassfinch has to be respected having got off the mark in a novices' handicap over C&D in February. General Ting usually takes on better opposition than this and could also figure but both Mexican Bob and Pheidias are on long losing runs and difficult to fancy.
Emperor's Choice (IRE) 11-8fav (11-11) Led and dived at 1st, headed 5th, chased leader, led again before 8th, not fluent next, driven and in command 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Mar beating Like Ice (11-12) by 14l, 8 ran.
Knight Legend (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Led 1st until after 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 11, 34l behind Grand Vision (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Grassfinch 16-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 7th, headed after 9th, led again 3 out, headed briefly 2 out, driven and stayed on flat, won at Fakenham 2m 7f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gs in Feb beating Floreat (11-7) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Shan Blue (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, brought down 8th, in a race won by Sundown Trail (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Mexican Bob 8-1 (11-0) Keen tracked leaders, lost place 6th, ridden and headway 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Abnaki (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Pheidias (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Chased leader, led after 2nd and soon well clear, reduced lead approaching 3 out, ridden soon after, headed 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 11, 6l behind Go Amwell (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Twiglet The Piglet 40-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden before 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 9, 42l behind Quel Elite (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
General Ting (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Took keen hold, held up and towards rear at 4th, hit 9th, headway on inside when left 4th 2 out, no impression, 4th of 9, 10l behind Vintage Star (11-0) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
