held up towards rear, ridden 6th, well behind next, tailed off
not fluent 6th, always in rear
held up towards rear, raced keenly, racing awkwardly on outside 6th, headway when mistake 3 out, weakening when went right 2 out
in touch, mistake 5th, not fluent when weakening 7th
slowly away, always in rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up flat
in touch, ridden 3 out, led last, hung left flat, driven clear
prominent, went 2nd approaching 5th, ridden 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, beaten flat
held up in rear, raced keenly, not fluent 2nd, jumped right and not fluent 3rd, headway 6th, ridden 7th, soon carried head high, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, ridden and dropped rear 5th, tailed off when pulled up after 7th
mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway approaching 5th, disputing 2nd when landed very awkwardly 2 out, soon weakened, mistake 2 out
chased leaders, jumped slowly 5th, soon lost place, behind from 7th
raced freely, with leader, led 2nd, headed 2 out, mistake and weakened last
held up towards rear, headway after 6th, ridden and every chance last, soon hung left, no extra
led to 2nd, chased leader until approaching 5th, driven next, lost place badly 7th, stayed on flat but no chance
MYSTIC STORM is our selection ahead of Quelclasse and Overtly Blue. The selection has had reported problems but a recent wind operation appears to have been successful and he obliged recently over chase fences. Quelclasse was disappointing over three miles at this course and is hastily sent back over this shorter trip. His second to Tyrells Wood now reads particularly well. Overtly Blue is still a maiden though has taken on stronger opposition than this in the past. Rhys Flint is able to claim 3lb and this should prove valuable to the chances of Arniecoco. Vilcabamba is relatively unexposed on these shores and Lady Clarke's gelding returns after a year away. Trevian is entitled to have needed his first run for some time so it will be no surprise to see improvement today. Falsino has been big odds on all his start so is probably not a stable star. Hareem had the tongue tie left off at Newton Abbot and duly obliged. That said, it was a lady riders event and these are notoriously difficult to assess when related back to other types of contest. Highland Laddie had showed a modicum of ability on the flat and could still be open to progression over hurdles. Mystic Storm is the pick.
Overtly Blue (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders to 2nd, pushed along 5th, outpaced after next, plugged on to take moderate 4th flat, 4th of 8, 31l behind Shiwawa (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Mystic Storm 10-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 6th, not fluent 3 out, ridden after 2 out, 7 lengths 2nd when left in lead last, driven out, won at Towcester 2m 3f mdn chs (4) gf in May beating Pharaon De Touzaine (11-0) by 12l, 9 ran.
Storey Coburn (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Led, headed after 4th, regained lead briefly 4 out, headed and weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 16, 22l behind Two Left Boots (11-7) at Tramore 2m hcp hdl 0-95 gf in May.
Arniecoco 11-4 (10-10) Tracked leaders, weakened 6th, 5th of 12, 43l behind Hope Road (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Jun.
Ariodante 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, stumbled first, behind from 5th, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Hareem (10-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Trevian 13-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace under pressure, 4th of 12, 11l behind Veiled Applause (11-10) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
Highland Laddie 8-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, headway to lead approaching 3 out, headed next, one pace from last, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Karashar (10-10) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in May.
Vilcabamba 11-4fav (10-12) Rear of mid-division, headway approaching 5th, soon went 2nd, mistake 3 out, beaten when not fluent 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 12, 10l behind Benmore Boy (10-12) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (4) gs in May '08.
Quelclasse (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, led, jumped left 1st, headed before next, remained prominent, led approaching 7th, headed before next, weakening when jumped left 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 12, well behind Silver Bay (11-0) at Worcester 3m mdn hdl (5) gf in Jun.
Falsino (GER) 100-1 (10-3) Disputed lead until not fluent 6th, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Classic Swain (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Jun.
Thethirdoftheforth (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, tracked leaders on outside, led 5th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 13, 29l behind Rapid Return (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Mr Tee Pee (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 8th, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 11, well behind Thievery (10-0) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Hareem (IRE) 9-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway after 6th, led after 2 out, ran on well, ridden out, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun beating Gallant Hero (9-12) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Eyesrdancing 250-1 (10-5) Led, headed 8th, close up until ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 13, 38l behind Boomtown Kat (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
