chased leaders and keen, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, always behind
always behind
chased leader, ridden over 1f out, soon every chance, weakened entering final furlong
slowly into stride, held up, smooth headway over 2f out, ridden and bumped over 1f out, one pace
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
held up, ridden and headway and hung left over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd well inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden and hung left over 1f out, soon weakened
always towards rear
held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on to lead inside final furlong, driven out
always behind
chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
According to the declarations Kelly Burke is down to ride both Karl Burke's runners, Distant Country and Vancouver Gold. Whichever she ends up on she will get a good ride, but we will plump for Distant Country to follow up his recent c&d success. The seven-year-old beat his stablemate a neck in a similar contest to this, and that was a decent effort given that the race was not run to suit. On the same terms here a repeat looks likely, particularly if the selection gets the stronger pace that he would prefer. Vancouver Gold has shown the better form of the pair but just doesn't quite look at his best at present. Lord Chamberlain was a 7f winner here last time, but has also won over c&d and despite being well and truly in the veteran class he can again go well. Nimello probably has stronger claims given that he is 11lb better off with the selection for a defeat of jst over a length last time, and he has to be taken seriously if BHB ratings mean anything. He is 10lb lower than when winning over c&d last summer, so a big run is expected, but Distant Country is form an in form yard and remains the one for us.
Louisiade (IRE) 13-2jt-fav (8-13) Raced on outside, held up, pushed along halfway, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 13, 9l behind Goose Chase (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcap (6) pol.
Nimello (USA) 8-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, ran on final furlong, 4th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Distant Country (8-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f app clm (6) pol.
Vancouver Gold (IRE) 7-2fav (8-5) Led after 1f, hung right inside final furlong, soon headed, ran on, 2nd of 12, nk behind Distant Country (8-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f app clm (6) pol.
Distant Country (USA) 7-1 (8-4) Mid-division, headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 1m 1f app clm (6) pol beating Vancouver Gold (8-5) by a nk, 12 ran.
Lord Chamberlain 12-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on, won at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol beating Sir Bond (9-2) by 2l, 12 ran.
Merdiff 14-1 (8-4) Prominent, every chance over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 3l behind Distant Country (8-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f app clm (6) pol.
Linning Wine (IRE) 6-1 (8-6) Started very slowly, soon mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 10th of 12, 7l behind Distant Country (8-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f app clm (6) pol.
Undeterred 100-1 (8-12) Mid-division, weakened 2f out, 21st of 22, well behind Mezuzah (8-5) at Redcar 1m hcap (2) sft in Mar.
