always towards rear
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, no impression
held up, headway after 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, soon ridden, mistake 2 out, stayed on
always towards rear
chased leaders, mistake 4th, ridden after next, kept on same pace from 2 out
led, soon clear, went right when ridden and headed after 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders until weakened after 3 out
held up behind, headway after 3 out, ridden in 3rd when not fluent 2 out, stayed on to lead soon after last, pushed out
chased leader, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next
chased leader, led after 3 out, soon kicked clear, tiring when mistake last, soon headed, lost 2nd near finish
Maria Antonia has found just one too good in each of her last two starts but Alison Thorpe's mare has harshly been raised 7lbs since the latest of those outings and she looks best watched now in a race taken to go to KARASHAR, who is preferred to Crazy Bold. Tony Carroll's gelding comes into this in good heart having won his last two starts in handicaps at Ludlow and Wetherby and he has every chance of completing a hat-trick but a 13lb rise for the latest of those successes makes this more difficult. Shannersburg is hard to recommend on the basis of the form shown in limited opportunities over hurdles but David Pipe does have his string in good heart at present so he cannot be discounted. Tweed River has only had six career starts so far but needs to improve on all known form, while Bernard Llewellyn's Sweet World keeps finding at least one too good and is likely to do so again here. The vote then goes to Karashar, who has shown a decent level of form in novice hurdles for Evan Williams and he looks well treated for his debut in a handicap.
Coup de Tabac (FR) 14-1 (11-6) Held up, headway and in touch 5th, effort 2 out, ridden and one pace between last 2, 3rd of 14, 16l behind Boulders Beach (10-7) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Karashar (IRE) 8-13fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out from last, won at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in May beating Highland Laddie (10-10) by 2l, 6 ran.
Crazy Bold (GER) 13-8fav (10-0) Held up in touch, ridden to lead 2 out where blundered, driven out from last, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in May beating Sea Storm (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Sweet World 7-1 (10-9) Pulled early in mid-division, headway from 5th, ridden and went 2nd approaching 2 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 11, 13l behind Wheelavit (10-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
Strong Market 18-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, mistake 5th, pushed along after next, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 8, 32l behind Any Given Day (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
King Ozzy (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened next, last of 11, well behind Bennynthejets (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in May.
Moon Bear 10-1 (11-0) Close up, ridden after 3rd, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Freddy's Star (11-3) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
Tweed River (USA) 7-1 (10-8) Mid-division, lost place 3rd, headway after 3 out, mistake last, stayed on, 5th of 13, 16l behind Melvino (11-5) at Stratford 2m ldys hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Oct.
Maria Antonia (IRE) 7-4fav (10-13) Held up in rear and pulled hard, good headway on outer to lead 3 out, soon clear, mistake 2 out, not fluent and headed last, no extra, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Benmadigan (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Turbo Shandy 33-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, blundered 4th, weakened after next, pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Line Artic (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in May, 11 ran.
Shannersburg (IRE) 7-2fav (10-7) Slightly hampered start, in touch, jumped big 1st and 2nd, lost place after 4th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 11, 28l behind Wheelavit (10-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
