Verdict

CUNNING CLARETS had King's Counsel, Red Skipper and Charlie Crab behind when first past the post over C&D earlier this month only for the race to be voided after most of the field ignored a warning flag. Richard Fahey's gelding is clearly on a decent mark at present and can gain some compensation for connections today. Weetfromthechaff's two recent victories have come at Kelso but he was runner-up over today's C&D in May and shouldn't be far away again, while the lightly-raced Raya Star has to be respected despite having his first start since finishing second over a longer trip at Aintree in the spring. Astrolibra, fourth at Cheltenham when put back over hurdles earlier this month, could be best of the rest.

Formwatch

Charlie Crab .

Raya Star (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, raced keenly, headway when mistake 6th, mistake 8th, challenged 3 out, led approaching 2 out, soon jinked about and headed, still every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Premier Grand Cru (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.

King's Counsel (IRE) .

The Hague 7-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, lost place when hit 2nd, ridden after 5th, weakened after next, 14th of 15, well behind Falcon Island (10-13) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.

Weetfromthechaff 7-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway 2 out, led run-in, kept on well towards finish, won at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs beating Beidh Tine Anseo (11-12) by 1/2l, 14 ran.

Cunning Clarets (IRE) .

Calculaite 40-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, ridden before last, weakened soon after, 10th of 14, 22l behind Weetfromthechaff (11-5) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.

Ministerofinterior 14-1 (10-9) Held up behind, headway on outside 3 out, led before last, ridden and stayed on well flat (no time taken), won at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr beating Big Robert (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.

Astrolibra 40-1 (10-4) In touch, lost place approaching 3 out, stayed on before last, no impression on leaders, 4th of 8, 7l behind Star Of Aragon (9-11) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gf.

A Patchy Dancer (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed before last, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Amtired (11-0) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gs.

Red Skipper (IRE) .

Golden Future 28-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 13, well behind Jeu De Roseau (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Sep.