in touch, headway and switched to stand side 3 out, soon chase leader, every chance next, led last, pushed out
keen soon led, clear after 1st, not fluent 5th, reduced lead next, ridden and headed next, weakened last
in rear, switched to stand side approaching 3 out, never a factor
close up, tracked leaders 4th, ridden 2 out, kept on to go 2nd close home
tracked clear leader, closed 4 out, led next, ridden and headed last, one pace and lost 2nd close home
towards rear, pushed along 6th, never on terms, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off
The Fergal O'Brien yard is rocking along with a near 40 per cent strike rate over the past fortnight and BRIEF AMBITION (NAP) can be another for the yard. He hasn't been seen since October but efforts behind the likes of One True King and Ashtown Lad last season rate as the best form here by some way. Force Ten has shown some ability for the champion trainer but will need to step up to challenge the selection on evidence to date, and similar comments apply to Sinister Minister and Grove Ash, although both are lightly-raced and improvement should be forthcoming.
Brief Ambition 15-8 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway into midfield before 7th, progress to chase leader before 3 out, driven 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 8 3/4l behind Ashtown Lad (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) sft in Oct.
Force Ten (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Edgy and led in start, pulled hard, pulled way through to chase leaders 1st, 2nd before hit next, lost 2nd 4 out, weakened quickly before next where blundered, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Martinhal (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Grove Ash 12-1 (11-2) Jumped right, with leader until after 4 out, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Equus Dancer (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m 4f (4) gs in May.
Sinister Minister 14-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, under pressure after 4 out but responded to stay in touch, went fourth before last, 4th of 8, 16 1/4l behind Erne River (11-7) at Warwick 2m 3f (4) sft in May.
Trooper Jones 28-1 (11-1) Held up in mid-division on outside, headway 4 out, weakened after 3 out pulled up before 2 out, at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 7f mdn (4) gd in Apr.
Yes Governor (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Mid-division, pushed along after 5th, ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace into fourth, 4th of 9, 30 1/4l behind Kentucky Hardboot (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) gd in May.
Doctor Dotty 300-1 (10-12) Chased winner until before 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 14, 29l behind Galice Macalo (11-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Mar.
