chased leaders, led 2 out, jumped left last, kept on well under pressure
tracked leader, led 2nd, driven when headed approaching 2 out, weakened flat
held up in mid-division, headway before 2 out, soon no impression
led until 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, under pressure before 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened next
settled in rear, headway when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 3 out, every chance approaching next, soon outpaced, stayed on strongly closing stages
Hawkhill is steadily improving and got off the mark over timber at Huntingdon last month. He should go close again despite a penalty but SHANGANI is just preferred. He failed to figure stepped up to 3m at Bangor last time but won nicely in soft ground at Fontwell before that and a repeat will be good enough to land this. The betting may give the best clue to the chances of the 50,000 euros purchase Day In The Sun and likewise the returning three-time winning chaser Prince Des Marais.
Hawkhill (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Tracked clear leader, closed after 3rd, carried left 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, not fluent last, ran on well, won at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr beating Cry Of Freedom (11-6) by 3l, 8 ran.
Shangani (USA) 4-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, hampered 8th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 17l behind Staccato Valtat (10-6) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Apr.
Day In The Sun (IRE) Presenting gelding out of Velsheda.
Larkhall 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 4th, mistake next, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 15, well behind Frizzo (11-0) at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Lucky Prince 100-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, lost place after 4th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Black Thunder (11-5) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Prince Des Marais (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, led approaching 5th, headed before 4 out, soon 3rd and beaten, hit 2 out, blundered last, 3rd of 6, 21l behind Tyup Pompey (10-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr '11.
Rocky Elsom (USA) 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, jumped left 2nd, mistake next, ridden and weakened after 6th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Valmari (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb, 13 ran.
Tealissio 12-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Destroyer Deployed (11-1) at Southwell 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar.
