mid-division, headway from 3 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, shaken up to lead approaching last, pushed clear flat, comfortably
chased leader, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, one pace from last
prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
held up, headway from 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
pulled early in mid-division, weakened 3 out, behind when jumped badly right 2 out, tailed off last
towards rear, mistake 3rd, ridden and lost touch 4th, blundered 2 out, tailed off
pulled early and chased leaders, lost place 5th, headway 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner
led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, weakened flat
Newton Abbot winner Nearby ran well in a handicap at Stratford last month but the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding may struggle under his penalty today and a safer option looks to be ART TREND, who gets the vote over Silver Point. The last mentioned showed some decent form on the level in France and now makes his debut over hurdles for Evan Williams so warrants respect but may have to settle for minor honours. Gary Moore's Plumpton winner First Avenue has disappointed in his last two starts so looks best watched at present and of more interest may be Bingo des Mottes. Nigel Hawke's gelding has shown improved form of late and has to be considered as he looks to be going the right way. Colin Tizzard's Jackers dead-heated with Always Cruising here last time but this is tougher under his penalty and a better bet looks to be Art Trend. A flat winner for Peter Chapple-Hyam, the four-year-old has shown gradual improvement over hurdles for Paul Nicholls and a reproduction of his best should be good enough to take this.
Nearby 11-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, challenged when not fluent 2 out, still every chance when hit last, not quicken, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Bedizen (11-5) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
First Avenue 3-1fav (11-5) Held up, some headway after 6th, weakened approaching next, soon pulled up, in a race won by Erzen (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Jackers 6-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, hit last, headed after, rallied to dead heat post, won at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Apr deadheating with Always Cruising (10-9), 10 ran.
Beauchamp Viking 25-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway 3rd, weakened after 5th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Freddy's Star (11-3) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
Ground Patrol 100-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, always behind, last of 14, well behind Rapid Increase (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Oct '07.
Merlins Mate 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 13, 23l behind Lush Life (10-13) at Kempton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Silver Point (FR) 5-2fav (8-9) won at Cagnes-sur-mer(FR) 1m 2f stk std in Feb beating Beau Vengerov (8-9) by shd, 12 ran (flat).
Bingo des Mottes (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Led, soon well clear, ridden, headed 2 out, no extra, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Oddshoes (11-5) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Art Trend (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Took keen hold, tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 43l behind Tobago Bay (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
