held up towards rear, weakened before 4 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leader, led before 2 out, headed 2 out, no extra before last
mid-division, ridden 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders in 4th, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, headway 4 out, one pace from 2 out
led, ridden and headed before 2 out, one pace
always towards rear, weakened from 3 out, tailed off
in rear, headway 4 out, led 2 out, clear before last
held up towards rear, pushed along 4 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
Nonrunner
A decent contest for the track and several arrive in good form. Who's Cross won at Ludlow before finishing third at Huntingdon and makes his handicap debut while Dark And Dangerous and Dragon's Den are bidding to follow up recent victories, the latter collecting a penalty for scoring over a longer distance at Ludlow 11 days ago. Battlecat and Tzora have a chance but Shammick Boy may struggle under top weight and Dreambrook Lady was below her best at Stratford last month. SUD PACIFIQUE has travelled down from Cheshire and should enjoy the faster ground. He was just edged out at Cheltenham last time and, with a leading amateur's claim taking care of a 5lb higher mark, can gain an overdue success here.
Shammick Boy (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Raced wide, tracked leaders, challenged 6th, 4th and one pace last, 5th of 9, 7l behind Araldur (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Apr.
Sud Pacifique (IRE) 10-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, led before last, soon edged left, headed post, 2nd of 11, ns behind Starluck (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Akula (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Led to 4th, tracked leader, led again after 5th before next, close up in 2nd when fell 3 out (usual 6 out), in a race won by Unioniste (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
Dreambrook Lady (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Behind, chased leaders under pressure before 2 out, never able to challenge, weakened between last 2, 5th of 11, 25l behind Claret Cloak (11-12) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Who's Cross (IRE) 15-8fav (11-6) Tracked leader, led after 5th, headed 2 out, edged left after last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Kuda Huraa (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Battlecat 66-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, 15th of 23, well behind Bondage (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Dark And Dangerous (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Made all, set strong pace, ridden and pressed before last, kept on well run-in, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Apr beating Dashing Doc (11-2) by 2l, 5 ran.
Dragon's Den (IRE) 7-2fav (10-9) Took keen hold, held up last, mistake 6th, smooth headway after 4 out, went 3rd before led 3 out, in command 2 out, shaken up and stayed on well flat, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr beating Bravo Bravo (10-11) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Tzora 22-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, hampered 6th, headway under pressure 3 out, ridden to chase leading pair after next, kept on, no impression, 3rd of 15, 10l behind Bygones Sovereign (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Royal Rationale (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Always behind, never on terms, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Drussell (10-13) at Ludlow 2m Am hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Henry Hurst (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, fell 2nd, in a race won by Arctic Ben (11-8) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Secret Dancer (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Mid-division in touch on outside, chased leaders under pressure after 3 out, weakened before last, 10th of 15, 23l behind Mr Watson (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
