mid-division, headway 5th, struggling 9th, plugged on from 2 out
mid-division, headway 6th, led after 3 out, stayed on, ridden out
towards rear, brief effort after 8th
chased leader until 9th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out, blundered and unseated rider 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 9th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, no further impression on winner
mid-division, headway 8th, ridden to chase leading pair after 3 out, weakened before next
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, one pace from next
chased leaders until 7th, soon behind, pulled up before last
always towards rear, pulled up before last
held up, behind, headway after 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, not quite reach leaders
Nonrunner
This should not take a great deal of winning and following a comfortable success at Ludlow last time in a similarly weak contest Mickey Pearce is hard to oppose, getting the vote ahead of Jim Lad and Freedom Now. The last mentioned has claims on bits and pieces of form but has not won for nearly three years so may be best watched. Roman Rampage has disappointed since winning a selling handicap at Folkestone in January, while The Teuchter is hard to recommend on recent form. Recent winning chaser Jim Lad reverts to hurdles on a higher mark and a better bet looks to be Mickey Pearce who is taken to follow up his recent Ludlow success.
Freedom Now (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Towards rear, headway 4 out, never better than finishing position, 5th of 13, 13l behind Loita Hills (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Mickey Pearce (IRE) 2-1 (11-8) Held up racing keenly, headway 7th, led 3 out, clear last, eased close home, won at Ludlow 2m 5f cnd sll hdl (5) gd in May beating Pongo's Nephew (10-12) by 12l, 7 ran.
Rathlin Island 25-1 (10-13) Made most to 7th, soon lost place, weakened after 3 out, 11th of 14, well behind Dead Mans Dante (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
The Teuchter 25-1 (10-6) Never better than mid-division, 8th of 18, 24l behind Third Level Tom (11-5) at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in May.
Jim Lad 9-2 (10-0) In touch to 3 out, 8th of 14, 39l behind Read All About It (10-9) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Regal Vision (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Slowly into stride, always behind, tailed off when unseated rider in race won by Fluff 'n' Puff (10-5) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
My Retreat (USA) 16-1 (10-6) Soon tailed off, 9th of 16, well behind Westfield Dancer (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl (5) gf in May.
Roman Rampage 40-1 (10-7) Always last, behind from 8th, last of 5, well behind Blu Teen (11-6) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gf in May.
