led, not fluent 5th, headed before mistake 2 out, no extra
in rear, not fluent 4th or 3 out, soon ridden, headway 2 out, switched right before last, ran on, led towards finish
tracked leaders, took keen hold, 2nd from 3rd, led before 2 out, soon headed, every chance last, 3rd and held towards finish
tracked leader until 2nd, stayed handy, mistake 6th, not fluent 3 out, lost place before 2 out
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, led 2 out, ran on, headed towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden and close up 2 out, 4th and no extra towards finish
Floresco is the sole course and distance winner on show but faces a tough task conceding weight all round to useful opponents. Volpone Jelois ran a good second on the level at Salisbury on Saturday evening and is clearly in good heart, whilst Harry Fry goes down the cheekpieces route with Brotherly Company for the first time. Both harbour perfectly acceptable claims in a tight little handicap but MR KIT CAT is narrowly preferred. The Williams' horses are running consistently well and their contender came up against a really in-form sort in Cobra De Mai earlier this month. He enjoys good ground and gives the impression he can make further progress over timber off his current mark.
Floresco (GER) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened run-in, 5th of 17, 6 3/4l behind Stamp Your Feet (10-3) at Haydock 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Doubly Clever (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) In rear, pushed along on paddock bend after 5th, stayed on from 3 out, no impression on leaders, 4th of 13, 23 1/4l behind Fortunate George (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Brotherly Company (IRE) 8-11fav (11-11) Left sole rival start, tracked winner, struggling 4 out, soon ridden and lost touch, rallied and close up 2 out, 3 lengths down and looked held when fell last, at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) gf in May.
Mr Kit Cat 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 3 out, ridden and every chance last, not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Cobra De Mai (11-11) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gf in May.
Cleni Wells (FR) 5-1 (11-8) Prominent in chasing group, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, rallied next, went 3rd between last 2, kept on run-in, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Chieftain's Choice (11-8) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Volpone Jelois (FR) 4-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, keen, every chance 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Mark Hopkins (9-5) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in May.