mid-division, jumped left 5th, lost place 8th, hampered next, struggling 4 out, went 4th 2 out, no chance with leaders
tracked leader, led 9th, clear 3 out, held on well
ridden to lead, headed 9th, weakening when blundered 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 11th until before 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before last
prominent, mistake 6th, chased winner before 4 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on flat, unable to challenge
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd or 4th, headway 9th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up, ridden after 8th, not fluent next, well held 3 out, pressed for modest 4th 2 out
in rear, reminder after 2nd, not fluent 7th, ridden and struggling after 9th, pulled up before 11th
mid-division, headway 9th, ridden next, 3rd and one pace 3 out, well held next
Most of these are badly out of sorts and though Solway Dornal was placed last time it was only in a seller. Shooting Times has a visor for the first time which may bring about some improvement but Great Ocean Road has had very little racing over the past few years and is 3lb lower than for his only victory in 2010. MAN OF PRINCIPLES hardly has the most inspiring form figures but he's been competing in better class and when he manages to complete the course he usually puts in a decent performance so this could be his day. Alexander Oats will probably start favourite, as he did at Ayr last time, but he has enough weight for what he's achieved to date.
Alexander Oats 3-1fav (11-5) In touch in 4th, left 2nd from 5th, ridden before 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Flying Squad (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Chase (0-100) (5yo+) (5) sft in Mar.
Shooting Times 9-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, weakened before 13th, pulled up, in a race won by Matmata de Tendron (10-0) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Apr, 14 ran.
Man Of Principles (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, reminders after 5th and next, blundered and lost 3rd at 8th, soon lost place and in rear, tailed off when blundered 10th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Ancient Times (9-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
King Kalium (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 2nd, pushed along before 5th, soon in rear, tailed off, 4th of 8, 42l behind Lord Of Drums (11-9) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Apr.
Snuker 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, weakened from next, 7th of 12, 49l behind Majorica King (10-7) at Towcester 2m mdn chs (5) gd in Apr.
Lochore (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) In rear, blundered 1st, tailed off and pulled before 11th, in a race won by Balding Banker (10-7) at Hexham 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd, 10 ran.
Great Ocean Road (IRE) 12-1 (12-5) 3rd to 7; to 14, 4th of 5, well behind My Old Piano (12-5) at Derwent 3m ptp gs in Mar.
Monsoon Music (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Mid-division, in rear when mistake 8th, well behind when pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Lukey Luke (10-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Solway Dornal 28-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway 11th, went 2nd 13th until after 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 14, 14l behind Borolee (10-8) at Kelso 2m 7f Selling Handicap Chase (0-95) (5yo+) (5) gd.
