held up towards rear, pushed along halfway, weakened before 4f out
tracked leaders and keen, led before 9f out, headed 5f out, weakened over 4f out
mid-division, pushed along before 4f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 5f out, led on bit before 1f out, soon clear, hard held
held up towards rear, headway before 4f out, ridden before 2f out, one pace
tracked leaders, pushed along before 3f out, one pace
with leader, led 5f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, headway to chase leaders before 3f out, chased winner over 1f out, no impression
held up towards rear, weakened before 5f out
held up behind, some headway over 3f out, never dangerous
led, headed before 9f out, tracked leaders, weakened before 3f out, soon eased
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
Talkin Thomas kept on well for pressure when third on his racecourse debut at Carlisle and is entitled to improve on that effort here. His stable has won this race twice in recent times but we still prefer SPECIAL CATCH, who was relatively unfancied at Aintree last month but stayed on nicely from an uncompromising position off the final bend and is definitely on the upgrade. He can land this ahead of the once-raced Oscar Romeo and February's Wetherby runner-up Arizona River. Purcell's Bridge was third at Punchestown in May but is probably best watched on his first start for Rose Dobbin.
Battledancer Baryshnikov gelding out of Cede Nullis.
Beyond The Tweed 14-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway halfway, raced wide over 3f out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 36l behind Sinfield (10-8) at Catterick 2m mdn NH flat (6) gs in Feb.
Dreamers Gold (IRE) Ballingarry gelding out of Aule.
Ifandbutwhynot (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway on inside over 2f out, stayed on to 3rd final 100 yards, not pace of leading duo, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Ifyouletmefinish (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
Mootabar (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division on inner, chased leaders halfway, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 8th of 18, 31l behind Distime (11-4) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (6) gs in Feb.
Oscar Romeo (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Held up behind, stayed on well from 2f out, nearest at finish, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Crowning Jewel (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Oct.
Rupert Bear 200-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, effort over 3f out, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 40l behind Dreamers Of Dreams (11-3) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Mar.
Special Catch (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 5f out, headway and 10th over 3f out, stayed on final 2f, went 3rd post, 3rd of 17, 8l behind Sir Johnson (12-0) at Aintree 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
Talkin Thomas (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) In rear, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Cross Of Honour (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
Arizona River 33-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 4f out on inside, ridden over 3f out, kept on and went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Ebanour (10-9) at Wetherby 2m nhf (6) sft in Feb.
Bow Fiddle (IRE) Anshan mare out of Elite Racing.
Milliejane 16-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 9f out, weakened over 4f out, 7th of 13, 33l behind The Weatherman (10-9) at Kelso 2m NH flat (6) gs in Oct.
Sapphire's Ruby Sakhee filly out of Celtic Sapphire.
Solway Brook (IRE) 22-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 29l behind Sir Johnson (11-12) at Perth 2m NH flat (6) gs in Sep.
Valsesia (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Slight lead but pressed, driven and headed over 2f out, no chance with leading duo soon after, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Keep Kicking (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Mar.
Purcell's Bridge (FR) 12-1 (10-8) Always prominent, disputed lead halfway, led 4f out, ridden and headed 2f out, strongly pressed leader 1f out, no extra in 3rd close home, 3rd of 25, 2 1/4l behind Texas Jack (11-4) at Punchestown 2m nhf gd in May.
