in touch, ridden after 3 out, kept on under pressure flat, almost snatched 4th
chased leader, hit 8th, weakened 3 out
held up in last pair, ridden along 6th, rear and struggling next, tailed off
chased leading pair, weakened after 2 out, no chance when mistake last
chased leaders in 4th, led 2 out, in command when shaken up and not fluent last, edged left flat, kept on
led, went left and hit 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, chased winner after, no real impression when carried slightly left flat
always towards rear
keen, in touch, headway to 4th at 7th, weakened 3 out
held up in last trio, headway before 2 out, soon 3rd and driven before last, weakened and lost 3rd flat
pulled hard, held up last, headway from 2 out, stayed on to 3rd flat, edged right near finish
PURE CRYSTAL, Restart and The Fox's Decree make the shortlist here, with Pure Crystal taken to lose his maiden tag. Restart routed his field recently, and that was a major step up on recent performances. A winner has come out of that race already, but a 24lb rise in his rating looks extremely prohibitive. The Fox's Decree has been knocking on the door recently, placed in two of his last three runs and he looks set to win soon, but he is opposed here. Pure Crystal looks less exposed than her rivals, and although she has not been seen for six months, she ran well in her last handicap hurdle to be a close third, with three runners from that race winning next time. Pure Crystal can get off the mark and show her quality.
Sagunt (GER) 18-1 (11-3) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 9th of 17, 19l behind Exulto (11-5) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Apr.
Pen Gwen (FR) 9-4 (11-7) Raced keenly, tracked leader, joined leader 10th, led narrowly 14th, soon clear with easy winner, headed narrowly 3 out, stayed pressing winner until ridden and no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Eliza Doalott (11-12) at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd.
Pure Crystal 5-1 (10-6) Held up, headway 3 out, went 3rd approaching last, one pace, 3rd of 12, 10l behind Cobbler's Queen (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f mares nov hcp hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Baltimore Patriot (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, 10th of 16, 43l behind Tito Bustillo (10-12) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Restart (IRE) 22-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, went 2nd 8th, not fluent 3 out, soon led, well clear before next, coasted home, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Apr beating Basford Lass (11-11) by 24l, 15 ran.
Hurricane Electric (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, led after 3rd, mistake 8th, soon hung left, ridden after 3 out, hit 2 out, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd beating Silver Accord (11-8) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Solo Choice 25-1 (10-8) Towards rear, struggling 4 out, never dangerous, 6th of 13, well behind Kosta Brava (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd.
Gatien Du Tertre (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Behind when fell 8th, in a race won by Hever Road (10-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Sparkling Brook (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, ridden 2 out, never on terms, 6th of 9, 27l behind Lidar (10-12) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Wee Ziggy 6-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, headway when mistake 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 12, 15l behind Hurricane Electric (10-0) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
The Fox's Decree 9-1 (11-3) Keen, chased leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, hard driven flat, kept on to well held 2nd near finish,, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Nomad (9-10) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
