tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, lost place when not fluent 8th, closed approaching 2 out, no impression when mistake last
held up towards rear, steady headway from 9th, went 2nd 2 out, led and blundered last, soon ridden clear, idle towards finish, eased close home
took keen hold, led 2nd, clear 4th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, in rear 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, stumbled and unseated rider 2nd
held up in rear, well behind 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, pushed along in rear 7th, some headway from 3 out, no impression 2 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, no real headway, well beaten 2 out
mistakes, always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakening when jumped left last
led to 2nd, chased leaders, jumped slowly 6th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, mistakes 2 out
always in rear
prominent, chased leaders 3rd until 9th, weakened 2 out
in touch, blundered badly 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, weakened last
towards rear, headway on outside approaching 7th, lost place 9th, blundered badly 3 out, weakened before next
mid-division, not fluent 5th, weakened 8th, tailed off
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 6th, went 2nd 9th, led approaching 2 out, ridden when headed last, no impression flat, closed as winner idled and was eased towards finish, no impression
FACTOTUM left a very good impression when dotting up at Ffos Las and gets the vote here, while Ainama, also running in the colours of J P McManus, and Lie Forrit are among a number who will fancy their chances. Jonjo O'Neill had the selection spot-on at the Welsh track, when he won by an easy-looking 10 lengths, for which he has gone up 10lbs. The rise is fair enough, but he looks as though he is capable of defying it as one who stays well and acts with cut in the ground, so we'll give him the vote. Ainama looked potentially high-class when runner-up in the Dovecote at Kempton in February, but was 15 lengths adrift in the Supreme Novices' at the Festival, and then did well when stepped up to 2m 4f at Aintree. This flat track may enable him to get the three miles, but on balance given the soft ground and his pedigree, it is hard to be confident that he will truly stay with this big field and the probability of a decent pace. Lie Forrit has done very well for his yard, winning five of his nine career starts and making the frame on two other occasions. His Listed win at Cheltenham last time, when the ground was soft, means that despite a further 6lb rise we should take him very seriously. Mudlark Magnifico stays forever, and was not far away at Chepstow on Wednesday, while his feather racing weight should enable him to get very competitive. Balthazar King has decent prospects after staying on well up the Cheltenham hill over 2m 5f. He goes on the ground and this extra three furlongs can see him get heavily involved. Another interesting contender is Halla San, who is still capable of a fair bit of improvement over hurdles, and if able to transfer his flat abilities literally, could emerge as a leading player with this trip looking ideal and ground to suit. Nycteos has not been seen for the better part of two years, and he returns from the sick list 3lbs higher than when winning a soft ground Kempton handicap hurdle over 2m 5f. His record fresh is not as good as it is after a run, and with some doubt as to his ability to get this far, we will oppose. Helpston represents a stable that is firing and could go very well at a price, while Old Benny stays forever and acts on the ground, and looks very well handicapped on his old chase form. If able to recapture that ability following 18 months off, then he could make them all go. It's a fascinating race and Factotum is taken to score.
Ainama (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway in 14h approaching 3 out, ridden into 8th entering straight, kept on same pace from before last, 6th of 22, 20l behind Jessies Dream (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl gs in Apr.
Lie Forrit (IRE) 11-4fav (9-12) Close up until mistake and outpaced 2 out, rallied before last, led flat, driven out (no time taken), won at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp hdl (1) sft beating Earth Planet (10-5) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Marodima (FR) 40-1 (9-13) Soon led, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 21l behind Celestial Halo (11-10) at Wincanton 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs.
Factotum 9-4fav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway halfway, chased leaders 3 out, led approaching last, soon clear (no time taken), won at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd beating Sir Tantallus Hawk (11-12) by 10l, 9 ran.
Nycteos (FR) 7-4fav (10-10) Held up, headway after 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, idled flat, driven out, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan '08 beating Kawagino (11-9) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Green Mile 25-1 (10-2) Always behind, last of 12, well behind Lie Forrit (9-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp hdl (1) sft.
Old Benny 4-1fav (10-0) Mid-division, not fluent 14th, headway to go in touch 22nd, kept on same pace 3 out, 4th of 24, 17l behind Iris De Balme (9-7) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr '08.
Trigger The Light 8-1 (11-6) Held up, headway after 11th, mistake 14th, soon ridden, weakened after next, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Boychuk (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
Helpston 5-1 (11-7) Raced keenly, led to 2nd, chased leader, not fluent 3rd, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, weakened flat, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Time For Rupert (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Halla San 13-2 (10-8) Held up, smooth headway 3 out, challenged last, ridden to lead briefly flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind The Polomoche (11-12) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Balthazar King (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Prominent, went 2nd 3rd until 2 out, soon slightly outpaced, rallied flat, ran on well towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 17, 3/4l behind Wolf Moon (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Very Cool 20-1 (10-9) Pressed leader until after 4th, 2nd again 6th, soon driven, weakened approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Trenchant (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd, 13 ran.
Midas Way 17-2 (11-3) Held up, headway approaching 11th, close 3rd last, not much room flat, stayed on, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Giovanna (11-5) at Stratford 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Attorney General (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, led after 6th to 7th, remained prominent, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd flat, not trouble winner, 2nd of 24, 3 1/2l behind Lord Ragnar (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gs.
Stripe Me Blue 25-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened quickly before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Sashenka (10-1) at Ascot 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Galaxy Rock (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) In touch, weakened after 3 out, 10th of 17, 20l behind Wolf Moon (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Shardakhan (IRE) 2-1fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, joined leader after 11th, shaken up to lead approaching 3 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Chepstow 3m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Mar '08 beating Leading Authority (11-8) by 18l, 5 ran.
Mith Hill 9-1 (10-13) Mid-division, hampered approaching 7th, rider lost irons on bend before 3 out, staying on in about 6th when hampered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Lord Ragnar (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gs, 24 ran.
Six Day War (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 7th, no chance 3 out, 6th of 7, 29l behind Rathcor (11-5) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Magnifico (FR) 4-1fav (11-0) Pressed leader, led approaching 2nd, made most after that until headed approaching 2 out, rallied flat, stayed on well towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 9, nk behind My Friend Sandy (11-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy.
