reluctant to line up, led after 1st, driven along approaching 2 out, caught post
reluctant to line up, held up, raced keenly, headway after 6th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra flat
held up, ridden from 7th, headway after 3 out, went 2nd last, stayed on well flat to lead post
chased leader after 1st until approaching 3 out, weakened after 3 out,
in touch, not fluent 5th, hit 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
led until after 1st, remained prominent, not fluent 4th, lost place and ridden 6th, behind after
held up towards rear, pushed along after 6th, weakened next
chased leaders, lost place approaching 4th, not fluent 5th, no impression on leaders from 7th
mid-division, headway on inside 5th, not fluent 7th, ridden after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace
Grecian Groom showed plenty of pluck to get home and win at Fontwell last time and can follow up from an 8lb higher mark here, with Leamington Lad, Full House and Bureaucrat potential dangers. The selection comes from the in-form Jonjo O'Neill yard and will enjoy this sound surface. He has won going both right and left handed and this sharp track should hold no fears for him. Leamington Lad is another from a stable going well, he appears to act on any ground and was competitive from this mark at Cheltenham last time out, so he should be involved. Full House won this year's Ascot Stakes and is effective over this sort of trip over fences, having won off a 13lbs higher mark 18 months ago. He hasn't raced over hurdles for some time, and he was never as good over them as over fences in the past, so it is hard to predict what might happen here. If he does run to his ability however, he should be thereabouts. Bureaucrat has never won in handicap company, leading us to deduce that he needs a significant drop in the weights and until that time he does not look backable, so we will side with Grecian Groom.
Bureaucrat 15-2 (11-12) Led at start, ridden when switched right between last 2, disputing 3rd when unseated rider at the last in race won by Kanad (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd, 9 ran.
Full House (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Held up, headway under pressure to chase leaders 3 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 8, 14l behind Dempsey (11-6) at Sandown 2m chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Apr.
Cantabilly (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) In rear, stayed on from 3 out, 5th of 12, 12l behind Gwanako (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd.
Grecian Groom (IRE) 11-4fav (11-2) Prominent, tracked leader 4th, led after 6th, quickened 3 out, ridden 2 out, clear last, driven out flat, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf beating Masjoor (10-2) by 2l, 9 ran.
Take A Mile (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 6th, kept on one pace from 3 out, 5th of 9, 9l behind Grecian Groom (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf.
Dune Raider (USA) 18-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden along after 5th, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on flat, 5th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Kanad (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Tora Petcha (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden 6th, outpaced approaching 3 out, no impression when mistake last, 6th of 12, 19l behind Master Nimbus (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Leamington Lad (IRE) 7-1 (9-12) Mid-division, ridden after 2 out, stayed on from last, 5th of 17, 6l behind Mill House Girl (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Voir Dire 8-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, slipped bend approaching 4th, led 5th, ridden 2 out, hung left flat, ran on, won at Huntingdon 2m 3yo mdn hdl (D) gf in Oct '05 beating Royal Wedding (10-12) by 3l, 15 ran.
