led until 4 out chased leader until next, weakened 2 out
held up, jumped slowly 2nd, steady headway before 4 out, hung left and plugged on in 3rd from 2 out
raced keenly tracking leaders, went 2nd 10th, led 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, stayed on same pace in 2nd
reluctant to jump off, behind, closer at 7th, pushed along before 9th, weakened 11th, tailed off next
held up in 6th, hit 11th, good headway on outside chasing leaders before 4 out, close 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, stayed on well run-in
chased leaders until pushed along and weakened 4 out
chased leader until 10th, weakened 12th, tailed off
held up tracking leaders on inside, not fluent 9th, pushed along before 4 out, weakened next
The last two winners of this Listed handicap are back for more. Last year’s winner Born Survivor is 3-3 here but 13lb higher than 12 months ago. GUITAR PETE, successful in 2017, was beaten just over three lengths in second last year, with Cracking Find third, but is 15lb better off. Placed later in Grade 3 handicaps at Cheltenham, he hasn’t raced since December but comes to hand early and can come out best of these. Happy Diva is a tough mare who has a good strike-rate. She won in this grade at Huntingdon at the start of the year and can’t be left out of calculations. Go Long hasn’t had much racing and may be capable of better but Splash of Ginge and Catamaran Du Seuil are best watched at present and Demi Sang is high enough in the weights now.
Born Survivor (IRE) 10-3fav (11-2) Chased leaders, led after 4 out, left clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr beating Sizing Granite (11-6) by 7l, 13 ran.
Demi Sang (FR) 7-2 (12-1) Held up in rear, effort when not fluent 4 out, soon beaten, jumped left 3 out, no extra, 5th of 7, 24l behind Lovato (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Happy Diva (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 9th, led after 2 out, headed flat, led again towards finish, soon headed and held close home, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Northern Beau (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Catamaran Du Seuil (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Behind, headway into mid-division 12th, reminders after 16th, weakened before 3 out, behind when pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Guitar Pete (IRE) 13-2 (10-0) Prominent on outside, lost place 3rd, headway after 11th, pushed along before 13th, one pace and beaten before 2 out, went 3rd last, kept on, 3rd of 12, 16 1/4l behind Frodon (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Dec.
Splash of Ginge 25-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 4 out, weakened next, 17th of 22, dist behind Siruh Du Lac (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Cracking Find (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) In touch in mid-division, outpaced 12th, well beaten before 4 out, 4th of 9, 27l behind Crievehill (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Go Long (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-7) Held up, headway 5th, not fluent next, chased winner after 10th, every chance normal 2 out, no impression passing omitted last, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Adrrastos (11-5) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
