held up, headway approaching 7th, led 3 out, shaken up next, clear last
close up, weakened approaching 3 out
held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 4th, weakened after 4 out
mid-division, weakened from 7th, tailed off from 3 out
led, ridden and headed 3 out, one pace from next
held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, soon pushed along and struggling
tracked leaders, weakened 4 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, every chance 3 out, no extra when hit last
held up mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, lost place from 6th
mid-division, pushed along after 4th, soon struggling
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
held up and keen, weakened from 7th, tailed off from 3 out
held up, effort 4 out, stayed on strongly from last to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
always behind and not fluent, struggling from 6th
DREAMY SWEENEY should be up to defying a penalty in this company although it will be interesting to see if Cash Calculator or Flaming Charlie come in for any support. Nicky Henderson continues in fine form and Dreamy Sweeney should provide him with more success over the coming years. It's taken longer to gain his first win than might have been imagined following his good run in a race won by Karabak when he was brought down but that victory should have restored his confidence. The market should guide to the chances of Cash Calculator who ran twice between the flags in Ireland as did Flaming Charlie whose form looks a little stronger given that he finished close up behind the useful Realt Dubh before scoring by twenty lengths next time. Outlaw Tom's stamina won him the day at Warwick and he returns to action at a time when his yard is in good form but he drops back in trip and needs to improve again. Cool Defender, Quannapowitt and Captain Crackers are all considered too but Flaming Charlie and Dreamy Sweeney are the two that appeal most with the latter preferred.
Dreamy Sweeney (IRE) 10-11fav (11-1) Held up, headway 4th, quickened up and led 5th, clear when mistake 2 out, easily, won at Kempton 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar beating Balthazar King (11-1) by 12l, 7 ran.
Outlaw Tom (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Led to 3rd, chased leader, led after 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, driven and stayed on well flat, won at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Kilbeggan Blade (11-10) by 8l, 11 ran.
Betavix Cloudings gelding out of Lay It Off.
Billybo 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, 4th of 10, 28l behind Tataniano (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Captain Crackers (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Led, headed over 5f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 14, 20l behind Stormhoek (10-7) at Towcester 2m NH flat (5) gd in Apr.
Cash Calculator (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) 6th early, 9th when mstk 3rd, prog to 4th 5out, went 3rd from 2out, prog to 2nd at last, chall flat, not quicken, 2nd of 13, 5l behind No Better Man (12-0) at Lemonfield 3m ire ptp in Mar '08.
Cool Defender 14-1 (12-0) (tt) bhnd til pu aft 3 out, in a race won by Deep Hall (12-0) at Cold Harbour 3m ptp in May '08, 14 ran.
Flaming Charlie (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Cl up, 5th 1/2way, prog in 4th aftr 6out, ld from 4out & 6l adv 2out, sn drew clr, sow, won at Dromahane 3m ire ptp in Nov beating Aaron's Friend (11-7) by 20l, 14 ran.
Joe's A Boy (IRE) 1-2fav (10-12) In touch, pushed along from 4th, outpaced from 5th, pulled up before last, in a race won by Letterpress (10-12) at Hexham 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov, 6 ran.
King Stanley (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, jumped slowly and lost places 4th, tailed off after 7th, last of 15, well behind Hey Big Spender (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Knight In The City (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Held up, blundered 6th, headway 9th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace, 4th of 9, 13l behind Thedeboftheyear (10-5) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Mic Aubin (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up in touch, not fluent 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, hit last, 4th of 12, 7l behind Coda Agency (10-12) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct '07.
Oceans 7-2 (12-0) Bhnd til ur 9, in a race won by Qualypso D'allier (10-7) at Cothelstone 2m 4f ptp in Apr '08, 8 ran.
Rodney's Pillar 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, hit last, kept on to go 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 10l behind The Gossmoor Yank (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Commanche Smiles 100-1 (10-9) Chased leading pair until 4th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 10, 25l behind Petit Fleur (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Quannapowitt (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Led, headed over 2f out, ridden and one pace final furlong, 2nd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Turbo Island (10-10) at Ayr 2m NH flat (6) sft in Mar.
