Reporter: Simon Rowlands
This represents useful form, rather than better, though a couple (notably the winner) may do better still under different circumstances. The pace was pretty tepid for a long way (modest overall time), resulting in a ~109% finishing speed.
GIDLEIGH PARK (h141+ here and previously) maintained his unbeaten record, though it was pretty hard work, the run of the race not really showing him in the best light. He led/raced close up and went with zest, blundering at the fifth and not fluent 2 flights later, headed and tapped for toe approaching the last but getting a good jump when he really needed it and finally asserting under strong pressure near the finish. A truer pace at 20f would help him and he might find things quite tough against the cream of this division in the shorter-term, for all that he continues to look a good prospect.
LUCKY PLACE (h140 here and previously) had run especially well to split 2 useful types at Taunton the time before and might not have improved to go as well as he did, tracking the pace until quickening to lead approaching the last, joined again soon after and putting it all in for all that he came off the worse right at the end.
ISAAC DES OBEAUX (h135 here and previously) looks a decent prospect for chasing a bit further down the line but ran well kept to smaller obstacles here despite the run of things, helping to make the running (despite early mistake) and rallying quite well after very much getting done for toe between the last 2. He should stay 3m.
JOHNNYWHO (h134 here, 141 previously) found this a different proposition to Newbury (where he finished well as others tired), tracking before having every chance between the last 2 but comprehensively outpaced thereafter. He will benefit from further.
CHOCCABLOC (h129 here, 123 previously) seemed to run well but was readily left behind after closing between the last 2.
ANTRIM COAST (h0 here, 135 previously) had a little to find but dropped away so quickly after 2 out that perhaps all was not well.
