held up in touch, hard ridden 3 out, effort approaching next, soon one pace
behind, headway 3 out, driven to challenge after next, kept on same pace flat
tracked leaders, lost place and badly hampered after 3 out, soon weakened and eased, pulled up soon after
tracked leaders, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
in touch, lost place after 3 out, headway under pressure after next, ran on to lead flat
mid-division, chased leaders halfway, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, driven 5th, weakened 3 out
behind, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened flat
behind, mistake 5th, headway after 3 out, chased leaders before last, soon one pace
in touch, headway 5th, led 3 out, clear approaching last, headed and no extra close home
mid-division, not fluent 5th, behind when blundered last
towards rear, hampered after 3 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, hampered after 3 out, never on terms
led, headed 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon behind
behind, hard ridden 3 out, headway next, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, ran on well flat, never nearer
It's more than two years now since OVERSTRAND last won a race, and he has been rated as high as 148, but he can take this ahead of likely challenges from Wheelavit and Dreams Jewel. He's been doing alright recently, and if running at anything like what he's shown in the past, can put these young guns to the sword. Last time out when fourth recently the race wasn't really run to suit; he's got to give away weight all round, and plenty of it, but he is the best horse in the race. Wheelavit, All Three Fables and Elaala are all in form, having won last time out, but they've not been consistent. Dreams Jewel will be helped by the faster ground he'll find here than in some previous races. Red Lancer's relatively unexposed over hurdles, but a win and two seconds in three outings is impressive by anyone's standards. This may be a little too hot a contest for him though. However, while there may be support for one or two in what's a bit of a pin-stickers' race, we're happy to side with Overstrand.
Overstrand (IRE) 15-8fav (11-3) With leader, led after 3 out, headed approaching next, no extra from last, 4th of 9, 5l behind Mickmacmagoole (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Kempley Green (IRE) 18-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3f out, ridden next one pace, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Toshi (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Jeepstar 11-1 (10-8) Led and keen, clear to halfway, headed 8th, weakened approaching 4f out, pulled up before 2f out, in a race won by I'm The Decider (10-9) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb, 9 ran.
Rising Force (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) In touch, mistake 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 13th of 20, 25l behind Font (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Elaala (USA) 18-1 (11-6) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May beating Gizmondo (11-11) by nk, 7 ran.
Red Lancer 11-4 (11-5) Mistake 1st, soon tracked leader, hit 6th, led soon after 3 out, soon ridden, headed 2 out, soon driven, beaten when hit last, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Benhego (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
King Cannavaro (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) 10th of 22, 23l behind Mythical Prince (11-7) at Cork 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd in Oct.
Sky Calling 9-2 (11-0) Took keen hold, led 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, well behind Treaty Flyer (11-4) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in May.
Dark Energy 12-1 (10-3) Held up in last, pulled hard, not fluent 2nd, fell 6th, in a race won by Acambo (11-12) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd, 8 ran.
Wheelavit (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Chased leader, led going well 3 out, shaken up and soon clear approaching 2 out, easily, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf beating Sweet World (10-9) by 13l, 11 ran.
Priest Field (IRE) 6-5fav (11-3) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway when not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, mistake 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 11, 7l behind Roisin's Prince (10-9) at Leicester 2m sell hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Ptibaby (FR) 11-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 12th of 14, 35l behind Segal (11-3) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
All Three Fables 8-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd when mistake 2 out, led when not fluent last, stayed on well under pressure, won at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May beating Raise Again (11-1) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
John Charles (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Slow 1st, lost touch 6th, tailed off when pulled up after 7th, in a race won by Knapp Bridge Boy (10-0) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 7 ran.
Boogie Dancer 6-1 (10-8) Held up in mid-division, headway on inside 3 out, stayed on to go 3rd last, no chance with winner, closing on 2nd near finish, 3rd of 13, 11l behind Ameeq (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Apache Dawn 18-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, went modest 5th approaching 3 out, 5th of 9, 32l behind Santia (11-5) at Worcester 2m hdl (4) sft.
Dreams Jewel 4-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, chased winner approaching 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, no impression before last, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Monn Royal (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
