held up, hit 4th, headway to lead after 3 out, joined last, soon headed and no extra flat
in touch, weakened after 4th, soon behind, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders and mistake 3 out, joined leader last, led narrowly flat, soon headed and no extra final 150 yds
towards rear, headway and blundered 3 out, stayed on to lead after last, driven out flat
held up, headway after 4th, pressed leader 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
led until after 4th, weakened quickly, tailed off
in touch, led before 4 out, ridden and headed before 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, effort 4 out, under pressure and weakened before 2 out
held up behind, blundered 2nd, hit 4 out, soon ridden and never troubled leaders
in touch, mistake 1st and 2nd, weakened 4 out and pulled up before last
held up towards rear, some late headway from 3 out, never nearer
held up behind, ridden 4 out, kept on from 2 out, never troubled leaders
close up, lost position after 3rd, weakened rapidly and soon tailed off
held up behind, never dangerous from 4 out, soon tailed off
prominent until 4 out, weakened and blundered 2 out, tailed off
tracked leader until after 2nd, soon lost touch, pulled up after 4th
Petanque is on a handy mark and can add to Nicky Henderson's impressive tally here, with Gone Too Far, Beseiged, Tom Paddington and Thesis just three others to note. Petanque lines up here instead of stablemate Isio, and has a great chance at the weights. An easy winner over two and a half miles at Doncaster last season, he disappointed on his final two starts, failing to show his true worth. Reported to have settled down with a summer's sun on his back, the seven-year-old, who has been working well at home, can come back with a bang. Gone Too Far has claims on his back-to-back wins at Sedgefield and Cheltenham, that latest effort on his debut for the Pipe stable. If the forecast rain comes, his stamina will come into play. Beseiged is a prolific scorer, unbeaten in his last five outings, and if fit after a break, can run well. Tom Paddington is fit from the Flat, but has not run over hurdles since 1998. He was a dual winner though, and should not be left out of calculations. Thesis lines up on a four-timer but does have topweight, so will do well to add to that tally. A competitive affair in which Petanque can give his stable another victory in this race.
