held up towards rear, headway 2 out, ridden to challenge winner last, stayed on
held up in touch, headway 9th, led approaching 2 out, pressed last, ridden and stayed on
keen held up, dropped to rear 4 out, pulled up 2 out
in rear, headway 9th, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
prominent 1st, tracked leaders, chased leader 8th, weakened 2 out
chased leader until 8th, tracked leaders, ridden and one pace from 2 out
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
Perth winner Los Nadis failed to cope with a 5lb rise last time but Neptune Equester is on a decent mark back over hurdles. However, FOURTH ESTATE found only one too good at Wetherby last month and can make the most of a fitness advantage with the top three in the weights all returning to action. The Last Samuri lost his unbeaten record over timber in a Grade 1 event at Aintree in April but Samstown ended last season with a win at Ayr and is 9lb higher today. Both are preferred to Mr Utah, who scored at Carlisle when last at the track, and course specialist Scotswell.
The Last Samuri (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up, pushed along approaching 6th, ridden and well beaten after 8th, tailed off, 9th of 18, well behind Beat That (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Apr.
Samstown 7-2fav (10-5) Held up in touch, led 4 out, clear before 3 out, easily, won at Ayr 3m 1f nov chs (2) gs in Apr beating King Of The Wolds (11-5) by 19l, 9 ran.
Mr Utah 6-1 (11-8) Led until after 5th, chased leader, led again before mistake 2 out, strongly pressed last, stayed on gamely in closing stages, won at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr beating Howizee (11-5) by 1l, 10 ran.
Fourth Estate (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Held up, headway 4 out, went 2nd and not fluent last, no impression on winner, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Kaysersberg (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Oct.
Scotswell 10-1 (11-0) With leader, weakened 9 out, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Royale Knight (11-1) at Sedgefield 3m 6f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Oct, 12 ran.
Neptune Equester 12-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders in 3rd, blundered 2nd, lost place before 9th, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on one pace and no impression, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Carlito Brigante (11-12) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct.
Los Nadis (GER) 4-1 (11-9) Led, mistake 3 out, rider lost iron briefly 2 out, soon headed, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 10l behind Solway Sam (10-3) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Aug.
