led until before 5th, ridden 3 out and went 2nd, weakened 2 out
with leader, led before 5th, clear before and not fluent 2 out, all out towards finish
tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along 3 out, chased winner 2 out until last, one pace
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 5th, ridden before next, weakened after 2 out
held up in rear, pushed along before 4th, reminders soon after, badly outpaced from 3 out, kept on after 2 out, went 2nd last, stayed on towards finish
An above-average contest for the grade and one where DANTARI appears to have most positives. The gelding is tried in a visor having idled at Ludlow, but it's worth remembering that it was his first run for some time, and he's likely to have come on plenty for it. Screaming Brave looked an exciting dual-purpose horse earlier in his career though things clearly haven't worked out and Sheena West drops him into the grade for the first time. Belle De Fontenay is yet to win on a faster surface but she battled on tenaciously to gain the verdict in a similar event at Worcester. Rocky Rebel reverts to hurdles having disappointed over fences and though he's less exposed than most - he probably has the most questions to answer.
Screaming Brave 7-1 (11-7) Led from 1st, blundered 2 out, soon headed, ridden before last, lost 2nd soon after, no extra and lost 3rd place towards finish, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Castlemorris King (11-10) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd.
Belle De Fontenay (FR) 9-2 (10-7) With leaders, led 4 out, clear 2 out, mistake last, just held on, won at Worcester 2m sell hdl (5) gd beating Osric (10-12) by nk, 9 ran.
Callhimwhatyouwant (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Led, headed after 2nd, tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened before last, 5th of 9, 19l behind Belle De Fontenay (10-7) at Worcester 2m sell hdl (5) gd.
Dantari (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Led, strongly challenged 3 out, headed next, rallied last, every chance when hung left under pressure closing stages, kept on to lead last strides, won at Ludlow 2m cond sll hdl (5) gd in May beating Descaro (11-0) by hd, 5 ran.
Rocky Rebel 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, ridden 8th, soon well beaten, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Mister Wiseman (10-2) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
