chased leaders, ridden 5th, weakened next
behind, headway from 6th, chased leading trio 3 out, stayed on under pressure to go 3rd soon after last
led, ridden and headed when mistake 2 out, soon lost 2nd, 3rd and no chance when hit last
always behind, struggling and lost touch soon after 4th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, broke blood vessel
held up mid-division, raced wide, headway after 6th, chased leading pair after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, no impression when hung left approaching last
in touch until weakened 6th, tailed off and pulled before 2 out
always behind, tailed off 6th, pulled up before last
pulled hard, raced wide, held up, headway to mid-division 4th, effort to chase leading pair approaching 3 out, weakened rapidly soon after, tailed off
behind from 3rd, under pressure from 5th, well behind when mistake next, tailed off
tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well
held up in rear, headway to mid-division when stumbled on bend approaching 6th where mistake and soon weakened
Nonrunner
In a race in which nothing stands out, Amanpuri is the pick ahead of Cava Bien, Misbehaviour, Maclean and Lyon. The trip might be the key above all else here as Amanpuri was all out to hang on when beating Albert House over two furlongs further here in January. Claimed out of a Chepstow seller a couple of months earlier, Alison Thorpe's charge was all heart as he stuck his neck out, and the fact that the third horse was 16 lengths away lends a bit of credence to the form. The slight doubt is the faster going here, but other than that he has a good chance of defying a rise in the handicap. Cava Bien's only success on the Flat came in a Yarmouth maiden in 2004, but he has shaped fairly well over hurdles since joining Bernard Llewellyn and at the age of four has more scope than the rest here. He may reach the frame at least, while Misbehaviour found little on the run-in on his Folkestone return but may fare better on today's going. Maclean has won over the course-and-distance in the past but is out of form at present, and Lyon probably has more to offer than we have seen but has had a long break. In truth, nothing can be backed with confidence, and only a tentative vote goes to Amanpuri.
Sesame Rambler (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Behind, struggling 5th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Wenger (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Barclay Boy 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 6th, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 16, 42l behind Five Colours (11-4) at Hereford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
It's The Limit (USA) 15-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 15, 15l behind Secured (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gf in Jan.
Major Speculation (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Always behind, 6th of 8, well behind Snipe (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in May '04.
Maclean 12-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, hard ridden 2 out, one pace, 6th of 11, 36l behind Nippy Des Mottes (11-5) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.
Mixed Marriage (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Prominent, mistake 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 17, well behind Mnason (11-2) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) sft in Feb '05.
Borehill Joker 11-2 (11-8) Always behind, struggling 8th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Jolly Boy (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (F) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Kety Star (FR) 6-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Mnason (11-2) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) sft in Feb '05, 17 ran.
Cava Bien 5-1 (10-12) With leader, led 4th until after 3 out, 3rd and held when mistake last, 3rd of 13, 22l behind Blazing Bailey (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Amanpuri (GER) 8-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, led soon after 2 out, soon hard ridden, all out, won at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan beating Albert House (11-7) by a nk, 8 ran.
Silistra 16-1 (10-9) Behind most of way, ridden and struggling 6th, 7th of 12, 20l behind Alph (11-10) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Lyon 10-1 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 7th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 9, 13l behind Azzemour (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (E) gf in May.
Montesino 66-1 (11-5) In touch, chased leader after 5th until 8th, soon struggling pulled up 3 out in race won by Kilty Storm (10-13) at Newbury 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan, 15 ran.
Misbehaviour 11-2 (10-13) Held up, headway to track leaders, going well between last 2, soon chased winner, chance last, ridden and found little run-in, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Isam Top (10-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
