always prominent, went 2nd at 7th, hit 3 out, ridden to lead between last two, headed and not pace of winner before the last, stayed on same pace run-in
led until before 3rd, chased leader until 7th, chased leaders, weakened home turn
kept wide, held up, good headway tracking leaders 6th, went 2nd between last two, led before last, came clear run-in
chased leaders on inside, weakened 3 out
kept wide tracking leaders, led before 3rd, went clear 7th, ridden and headed between last two, soon lost 2nd, no extra in 3rd
off the pace in last pair, struggling and no chance when fell heavily 4 out
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along disputing 2nd home turn until between last two, no impression and weakened into 4th towards finish
held up, headway on inside chasing leaders when not fluent 2 out, weakened soon after
always well in rear, never a factor, tailed off
A former Grade 1 winner, First Flow still has a touch of class but has been hard to train and, like The Last Day, isn’t getting any younger. Cap Du Mathan may have been feeling the effects of a busy season when pulled up at Sandown in April having looked progressive earlier. He’s preferred to stablemate Quel Destin while Red Rookie has been lightly raced and may have more to offer with a similar comment applying to Boothill but Funambule Sivola may have been flattered by his victory in the Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury in February. FRERE D’ARMES’ victory at Newbury last season could not have worked out much better. He didn’t quite run up to that form in a couple of subsequent outings but has only raced four times over fences so has bags of scope, as does the five-year-old Saint Segal.
First Flow (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Pressed leader, led briefly 7th, led 13th, joined between last two, headed and not pace of winner run-in, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Hewick (11-6) at Sandown 2m 7f (1) gs in Apr.
Funambule Sivola (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th until next, chased leaders, lost place and behind 8th, never on terms after, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Jonbon (11-10) at Sandown 1m 7f (1) gs in Apr.
Boothill (IRE) 15-8fav (11-7) Raced keenly, held up in rear, closer in 3rd 6th, dropped to 4th 5 out, hit next and pushed along, rallied on inside home turn, went modest 3rd before 2 out, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Solo (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gd in Feb.
Red Rookie 9-4fav (12-0) Tracked leaders on inner, lost ground when slow jump 4th, outpaced after 9th, ridden along before 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, not trouble leaders, 3rd of 7, 11 1/2l behind Mercian Prince (11-10) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in May.
Saint Segal (FR) 7-4fav (11-12) Mid-division, went 3rd 7th, pressed leaders after 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, 4th of 6, 8l behind Red Rookie (11-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
The Last Day (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway from 4 out, chasing leaders 2 out, soon unable to quicken, kept on and not fluent last, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 13, 6 1/4l behind Dancing On My Own (11-10) at Aintree 2m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Cap Du Mathan (FR) 9-2 (12-0) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, narrowly headed 10th, chased leader until before 3 out, soon weakened, remote 5th when pulled up before the last, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Frere d'Armes (FR) 2-1fav (11-3) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, not fluent 2nd, mistake 7th, not fluent 9th, effort before 4 out, no impression, well held 3 out, 7th of 9, 15 3/4l behind Malystic (12-0) at Ayr 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Quel Destin (FR) 10-1 (11-13) Jumped right on occasions, led, went right 1st, went right and hit next, led narrowly 10th, went badly right 4 out, headed before the last, rallied as leader idled badly run-in, just missed 2nd, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Gloire D'Athon (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
