chased leaders, ridden and lost place after 3 out, well held before next
held up in mid-division, headway on outside 8th, weakened before 2 out where pulled up
mid-division, headway when not fluent 3 out, 3rd next, stayed on one pace approaching last
towards rear, mistake 1st, ridden before 8th, not fluent when well beaten 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
held up towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, effort under pressure into 4th 2 out, no further headway before last
led until 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, kept on from 2 out but no impression on winner flat
held up in rear, headway rounding last bend, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
tracked leader until before 4th, 2nd again approaching 7th, led 3 out, ridden out
took keen hold, in touch in mid-division, headway to lead 4th, not fluent next, headed 3 out, lost place next
Withdrawn
Whatthebutlersaw completed a double over this trip at Ludlow around a year ago and doesn't appear to take much getting ready so he's on the shortlist. Benbecula doesn't win often but has slipped to a fair mark and wasn't beaten far here last week. STOLE THE SHOW was superbly handled by Charlie Hammond to land a conditionals' handicap at Fontwell last week and with no penalty to carry Richard Newlove's charge can complete a quick double. Winning bumper The Black Squirrel hasn't shown enough over hurdles to be considered and dual Flat winner Celestial Path has gone backwards.
Zulu Oscar 9-2 (12-7) Held up in touch, hit 5th, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, 14 3/4l behind Lex Talionis (12-2) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Garde Forestier (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent and pecked 4th, ridden and weakened quickly after 6th, soon pulled up, at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Apr.
Chato (FR) 9-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden and lost place after 4th, well beaten 3 out, 12th of 14, dist behind Burst Ya Bubble (11-6) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Itsamanslife (IRE) 15-2 (12-0) Led, not fluent 6th, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, dist behind Samson's Reach (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Stole The Show (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent 3rd, ridden and headway 3 out, challenged last, led and edged right flat, stayed on, won at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in May beating Zen Master (11-12) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
The Black Squirrel (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 2 out, never on terms, 7th of 15, 24 3/4l behind Smaoineamh Alainn (10-11) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gd in Oct.
Celestial Path (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, under pressure 2 out, soon beaten, 9th of 14, 34 1/4l behind Regulation (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Flo'sboy Sam 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden after next, weakened after 4th, pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Apr.
Benbecula 9-1 (10-8) Reluctant to race and slow 1st, in rear, headway on outside after 3 out, led before next, headed between last 2, no extra and lost 3rd close home, 4th of 16, 8 3/4l behind Schnabel (12-1) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in May.
Whatthebutlersaw (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up and behind, not fluent 2nd, headway 4 out, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, edged right and upsides when left in lead 2 out, driven out flat, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in May beating Royal Supremo (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
