towards rear, pushed along 11th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led 4th, headed 8th, led again 14th, ridden and headed after 3 out, every chance last, driven and stayed on to lead close home
led, headed 4th, led again 8th, blundered and headed 14th, ridden and led again soon after 3 out, headed and no extra close home
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 15th, weakened approaching last
held up, mistake 11th, soon struggling and behind
held up, ridden and effort 3 out, blundered last, soon weakened
pulled hard, in touch, mistake 15th, headway 4 out to chase leaders, soon ridden, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
close up, tracked leader 4th, ridden and one pace from 3 out
towards rear, blundered last, never dangerous
Not many of these are in the best of form and we will side with The Laird's Entry to make a winning return, with Bak To Bill and Harrycone Lewis the likely dangers. The selection is an eyecatcher from the Howard Johnson yard, not least for the booking of Timmy Murphy. He steps back up in trip here to three miles, and has gone up only 2lb for his Ayr win in the spring. He jumps well, and although there have been questions about his stamina in the past, this good ground and flat track will help, while if anyone can nurture him round to best effect then it is Murphy. Bak To Bill will have no stamina doubts and was a 14 length winner at Ludlow last time. A 7lb penalty will make this a fair bit more difficult and although it could prove too much for him, he should make the frame. Harrycone Lewis handles both trip and ground well enough and after first-time blinkers helped him make the frame last time over hurdles, they are not applied here. On balance though, he looks handicapped to the hilt and probably the best he can hope for is a place. Even More is starting to drop down the weights, but needs to come down further to be seriously considered, while Historg will find this ground too quick, so we take The Laird's Entry to score on his seasonal reappearance.
