held up mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, kept on one pace
led to 4th, led before 5th, headed last, hard ridden and rallied flat, not pace of winner
held up in touch, ridden 5th, soon weakened
held up in touch, ridden 5th, weakened 6th
prominent and pulled hard, led 4th to before 5th, hit 6th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up mid-division, headway 6th, chased leader 3 out, challenged after 2 out, rallied and led last, edged right flat, all out
held up last, some headway 6th, stayed on 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden after 4th, soon weakened, pulled up before 6th
Pilca lost no caste in defeat behind an improved Sea Wall at Ludlow last time, should not be inconvenienced by the return to a shorter trip and gets the vote to go one better here at the main expense of Zonic Boom and Arimero. The last mentioned is gradually slipping to a fair mark but remains a maiden and is probably best left out of calculations. Brown Fox, a winner on the flat in France, has been largely frustrating since being sent over hurdles and is hard to recommend with any confidence, while Jobsworth has given little cause for optimism and is readily passed over. Zonic Boom would have claims if fit enough for his return but a safer option looks to be Pilca, who is taken to fulfill earlier promise and gain a deserved success here.
Zonic Boom (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out, 7th of 15, 19l behind La Dolfina (11-0) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Pilca (FR) 11-4jt-fav (10-3) Held up and keen, headway 7th, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, mistake last, no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Sea Wall (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf.
Arimero (GER) 6-1 (10-9) Chased leader until led after 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed and not fluent last, no extra flat, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Shingle Street (11-3) at Stratford 2m sll hdl (4) gd.
Jobsworth (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Always in rear, 13th of 15, well behind Taksina (10-9) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-88 (5) gs.
Brown Fox (FR) 5-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 15, 26l behind Secret Squirrel (10-10) at Hereford 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gf.
Barneys Reflection 66-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, weakened 9th, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Jug Of Punch (10-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf, 16 ran.
Compton Star 33-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 6th of 15, 20l behind Secret Squirrel (10-10) at Hereford 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gf.
Rhetoric (IRE) 40-1 (9-9) Took keen hold, led to 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 15, 26l behind Dishdasha (10-9) at Stratford 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gd.
