held up, mistake and stumbled 3 out, never dangerous
tracked leader, challenged 5th, ridden to lead 2 out, headed approaching last and weakened
chased leaders, lost place approaching 3rd, rallying when jumped left 2 out, soon outpaced again, kept on well approaching last, no impression on winner
prominent on outside, lost place approaching 3rd, driven along before next, no danger after
held up in touch, went 3rd after 4th, ridden to lead before last when mistake, ran on well
held up in touch, driven along 4th, soon outpaced, rallied after 2 out, kept on to dispute 2nd when mistake last, stayed on flat
took keen hold, held up, not fluent 2nd, mistake 3 out, never dangerous
in rear, jumped slowly 2nd, mistake 3rd, driven and struggling from 5th, tailed off
led, ridden 5th, headed 2 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, headway 3rd, driven along after next, not fluent 5th, weakening when hampered 3 out
pulled hard, prominent, pushed along when hit 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
In another tricky handicap, Tom Bell can score, with Make My Hay and Long Road suggested as possibly the ones to prove best of the rest. Tom Bell is back to the mark and course and distance scene of his greatest recent triumph, which came last May, and he ought to be able to go well based on that evidence. Mind you, he was beaten from today's mark last time, although the run was a fair one. Make My Hay is always capable of running well from his current mark and the race might just pan out for him, while much as Lucky Do's and Ball Games' best recent efforts have come in sellers and claimers they could not be ruled out of good runs in this type of company. With Desert Spa and Long Road, who did however run well from today's mark last time, not entirely proven from their raised ratings and Davy's Luck being hard to gauge based on his course and distance novices' hurdle win, we return to the selection, which is Tom Bell.
Desert Spa (USA) 12-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway approaching 4th, ridden and weakened 6th, 8th of 9, well behind Red Moor (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in May.
Long Road (USA) 2-1fav (11-11) In touch, chased leader 3 out, ridden and chased leader 2 out, not quicken, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Avesomeofthat (11-2) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
Make My Hay 7-2fav (11-9) Prominent, ridden approaching 4th, weakened next, 7th of 10, well behind Borehill Joker (10-11) at Towcester 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) sft in May.
Tom Bell (IRE) 14-1 (9-12) Held up, headway 5th, ridden to lead briefly 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 15, 6l behind Mac Federal (10-6) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf.
Ball Games 9-1 (10-12) Behind, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on from next, never dangerous, 5th of 12, 28l behind Rossin Gold (10-5) at Cartmel 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in May.
The Iron Giant (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up last, pulled hard, pecked 1st, pushed along 6th, no impression from 3 out, 8th of 12, 23l behind Brads House (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Davy's Luck 12-1 (10-13) In touch, lost place after 6th, well behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Magot De Grugy (11-3) at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Oct, 15 ran.
Precious Lucy (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 25l behind Lilac (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) gd.
