made all, jumped well, ridden before 2 out, stayed on well
tracked leader, hard driven after 4 out, stayed on under pressure, no chance with winner
raced in rear, headway halfway, pushed along 7th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 3 out
behind, mistake 8th, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
settled in mid-division, headway 4 out, soon tracking leaders, raced wide and effort before 3 out, soon under pressure and weakened
held up in touch, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and weakened before 3 out
always in rear, weakened 4 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, hard ridden to challenge approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, under pressure before 7th, weakened before 3 out
prominent, lost place 4 out, soon beaten
Peter Bowen has won this race with each of his last two representatives so Heron Bay is well worth keeping an eye on. He ran a solid race back in novice company last time having previously come up against the progressive Nearby and must have each-way claims, but he meets another Philip Hobbs-trained inmate who may prove too progressive in KEKI BUKU. This horse is a proven soft-ground performer who had clearly benefitted from a summer wind operation when coming clear at Market Rasen. He looks ahead of the handicapper under this 7lb penalty and, providing this race doesn't come too soon just a week later, should be capable of following up. Quartz de Thaix has been working well and progressed throughout last season so he's best of the rest ahead of Son Of Flicka and Washington Irving.
Quartz de Thaix (FR) 7-2 (11-13) Chased leaders, ridden to lead last, stayed on well, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr beating Pontop (11-0) by 4l, 10 ran.
Son Of Flicka 20-1 (11-5) In touch, chased leaders from 4th, blundered 6th, hit 3 out, ridden before next, led narrowly last, soon headed and stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 17, 1 1/4l behind Russian War (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Puyol (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division, some headway into 8th 3 out, no extra from early straight, 6th of 23, 23l behind Arvika Ligeonniere (11-12) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl gd in Apr.
Comhla Ri Coig 4-6fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 4 out, led 2 out, stayed on well, won at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Nov '09 beating Mr Woods (10-8) by 4l, 8 ran.
Keki Buku (FR) 11-4 (11-2) In touch in rear, headway 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft beating Degas Art (10-11) by 11l, 6 ran.
Washington Irving (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 9, 39l behind General Miller (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Secret Tune 14-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders when hit 6th, led soon after 3 out, went right 2 out, went right again and headed last, weakened flat, 8th of 17, 11l behind Russian War (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Lightening Rod 6-5fav (11-6) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway when not fluent 3 out, unable to quicken approaching last, went 3rd flat, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Issaquah (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Mar.
Heron Bay 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, stayed on well under pressure, 3rd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Safran De Cotte (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Ramsden Boy (IRE) 9-4fav (9-5) Fell 1st, in a race won by Sarteano (10-13) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp chs gf in May, 8 ran.
Worth A King's 12-1 (11-4) Chased leaders early, mid-division, ridden and no impression from after 3 out, 6th of 11, 14l behind Amir Pasha (9-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
