chased leaders, not fluent 6th, slow 8th and pushed along, lost place 4 out, behind next
chased leaders, mistake 4 out, outpaced after 2 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, headway 4 out, went 2nd after 2 out, led before last, clear flat, headed close home
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, struggling 2 out, went 4th before last, no impression and weakened
mid-division on outside, headway before 3 out, weakened before last
mid-division, not fluent 4th, pushed along after 9th briefly, headway after 2 out, switched right and mistake last, went 2nd flat, stayed on, led close home
chased leader, not fluent and led 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat
took keen hold, led, not fluent 4th, mistake and headed 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, not fluent 9th, headway before 2 out, weakened approaching last
His Dream and Nemean Lion are too inconsistent to merit serious consideration while Muthabir looks too high in the weights. Exitas is better known as a chaser but races off a 20lb lower mark than over fences and is a past winner here. Both FLYING VERSE and Telson Barley have form over this trip and can fight out the finish. The latter has gone up 6lb for a narrow victory at Warwick so the former gets the nod as he looked to be coming to hand when second at Southwell and Sam Twiston-Davies takes over the reins from a 7lb claimer.
Muthabir (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Chased leaders in 5th, outpaced when jumped slowly 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Eur Gone West (11-11) at Taunton 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Exitas (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Tracked front pair, went 2nd at 12th, left with every chance before 4 out, soon driven and lost place, weakened from next, 3rd of 5, 33l behind Beau Du Brizais (11-4) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Flying Verse 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, almost upsides when not fluent 3 out, outpaced next, soon ridden, rallied before last, no impression with winner flat, 2nd of 8, 4l behind The Drone (11-7) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Telson Barley (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, led last, hung left towards finish, held on, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in May beating Taaffes Castle (10-0) by nk, 11 ran.
Tea Time Fred 3-1 (11-13) Mid-division, pushed along 6th, effort 3 out, 5th and well held from 2 out, 5th of 7, 25 1/2l behind Southfield Torr (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
His Dream (IRE) 11-2jfav (11-5) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Nemean Lion (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Made most to after 4 out, lost place and ridden after next, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before next, at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Pahaska (GER) 25-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden and one pace in 4th from 2 out, no chance with leading trio, hit last, 4th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Ballybough Nora (11-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Stolberg (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, left in lead 5th, headed just after 3 out, rallied next, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 7, 5 1/4l behind Harbour Force (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (5) gf in May.
