soon chasing leader, hit 9th, led 13th, headed 2 out, no extra when hit last
behind, some headway 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
in touch, driven and struggling after 4 out, tailed off
held up, mistake 6th, ridden and no response 4 out, tailed off
in touch, lost place after 8th, well behind when mistake 13th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 4 out
chased leaders, driven after 4 out, went moderate 3rd approaching next
held up in touch, went 2nd soon after 13th, led 2 out, came clear between last 2, kept on strongly
chasing leaders when blundered badly and lost place 10th, soon tailed off, pulled up approaching 4 out
led, blundered 2nd, headed 13th, driven and moderate 3rd after 4 out, soon beaten
The lightly raced Julius has taken on stronger opponents than he faces today and can justify why he is being kept in training at the age of ten. Noble Action and Stormy Skye can give the selection the most tot think about, while Bally Conn is surely better than he showed on his chasing debut and is one to bear in mind if the market vibes are positive about him. Still, the first time blinkers will really need to do their job, as he needs to banish the memory of a very poor effort at Towcester. Stormy Skye has paid his way under both codes of racing and is a reliable character. Still his limitations are plain to see and he needs everything to fall into place for him. Noble Action, like the selection, has very few miles on the clock and still has scope to improve despite being set to carry top weight. Even so, he is yet to face a fence in public and his ability to cope has to be taken on trust. Therefore, it can pay to take the slightly safer route with Julius, who showed a touch of class when he bolted up in a chase at Limerick last March. Now under the care of the imperious Jonjo O'Neill, the 10-year-old has been found a relatively easy starting point for his campaign and, assuming he retains his ability, Julius is expected to be hard to beat this afternoon.
Noble Action 8-11fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, led 7th, stayed on well, won at Bangor 3m mdn hdl (4) gd in May beating Gone To Lunch (10-13) by 5l, 9 ran.
So Many Questions (IRE) 18-1 (11-11) Led, headed when fell at the 2nd in race won by Something Wells (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd, 11 ran.
Malaga Boy (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) In rear, mistake 9th, lost touch from next, pulled up before 12th pulled up 5 out in race won by Nice Try (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar, 6 ran.
Julius (FR) 15-2 (9-10) Held up, no extra from before 4 out, 16th of 19, well behind Point Barrow (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m hcp chs hvy in Jan.
Whosethatfor (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up, some progress 6th, weakened after next and pulled up 3 out in race won by Scarlet Mix (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Mar, 12 ran.
Supreme Tadgh (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, weakened from 6th, 6th of 11, 46l behind Kercabellec (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Mar.
Victor Daly (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Held up, headway after 7th, plugged on for poor 4th, 4th of 9, well behind Inherent (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Bally Conn (IRE) 3-1fav (10-1) Held up, headway 7th, lost place 9th, mistake 11th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Youll Do For Me (11-7) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Stormy Skye (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, driven 11th, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Elsie's Pride (11-4) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
