mid-division, ridden and lost place 5th, soon behind
held up and keen, headway approaching 7th, led approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, ridden and hit last, kept on flat
led to 3rd, with leader to 6th, soon weakened
behind from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 6th
pulled hard in rear, hit 6th, headway after 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, hit 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out
chased leaders to 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
keen, mid-division, headway 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway after 7th, outpaced after next, rallied approaching last, kept on flat
with leader, led 3rd, hit 4th, headed 7th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, led 7th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden and not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out, mistake last
Not the strongest seller you'll ever see with Tiger Talk getting the nod, and with Before The Mast and Raheel given as his main dangers. A Fakenham winner off 85 in March over two-and-a-half miles, Tiger Talk must surely be a leading player here, although you have to go back to his Flat form to find a soft-ground win. A triple all-weather winner at up to 12 furlongs, Sofisio has been placed in a similar event from a six-pounds higher mark - although that was in 2002, while Before The Mast would be a shoo-in based on his bumper form of 2002/3 and, although lightly-raced since, drops to this grade for the first time. Baker Of Oz has already been beaten in this grade although, again, watch the market as he is from a canny yard. Raheel could also be interesting as he made late headway when fourth in a seller two runs ago and, being a Lingfield Polytrack winner over 10 furlongs in 2004, has more going for him than most. Gipsy Cricketer is on a good mark based on fairly recent chasing form so might sneak a place, while Lovely Lulu can be given a squeak based on her Plumpton second in April. Brother Ted was second in a Stratford seller in October 2004 and would have a chance on that, although he has failed to build on it since, while New Wish and Maria Bonita drop to this grade for the first time but, along with Varuni, have to find improvement to score. Finally, Lady Maranzi is hard to assess but Richard Johnson has been booked but, for the selection, we return to Tiger Talk.
Tiger Talk 28-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened halfway, 15th of 20, well behind Piraeus (11-7) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gs.
Before The Mast (IRE) 22-1 (10-1) Prominent, chased winner 4 out, weakened quickly 2 out, 8th of 10, well behind Harley (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs.
Baker of Oz 7-1 (9-12) Mid-division, headway 4, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 17, 18l behind Desert Spa (10-13) at Hereford 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gf in Jun.
Raheel (IRE) 3-1 (10-6) unseated rider in race won by Past Heritage (9-11) at Taunton 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gf, 16 ran.
Maria Bonita (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Held up, towards rear, some headway when hit 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 12, 32l behind Lyes Green (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (E) hvy.
Varuni (IRE) 100-1 (10-4) In touch, every chance 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 7th of 12, 23l behind Zando (10-0) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (G) gs.
Gipsy Cricketer 50-1 (10-2) With leader, led 3rd to 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, 13th of 14, well behind Auetaler (10-4) at Ludlow 2m cnd sll hdl (G) gd.
Lovely Lulu 25-1 (10-0) In touch until hit 3rd, under pressure 3 out, no chance when hampered 2 out, 6th of 11, 38l behind Madison de Vonnas (11-12) at Plumpton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gd in Oct.
