held up last, headway approaching 2 out, 4th between last two, no impression when blundered last
took keen hold, held up in 5th, headway into 4th 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up tracking leaders in 4th on outside intil 4 out, rallied approaching 2 out, 3rd when hit 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
raced keenly, chased leader, left in lead 3rd, clear before 2 out, kept on strongly, eased towards finish
not fluent 1st, chased leading pair, 2nd approaching 2 out, driven and no impression between last two, dropped to 3rd flat
led, jumped right 1st, went badly right again next, went left and headed 3rd, chased winner, already lost 2nd when mistake 2 out, soon weakened
SWEET DEAL looks to have been found a nice opportunity to complete a hat-trick. Nicky Henderson's grey, twice a winner at Goodwood for Jeremy Noseda, scored at Aintree on his second start over timber then won by 10l at Uttoxeter so a mark of 133 for his handicap debut doesn't look excessive. Le Fin Bois scored on heavy going at Auteuil a year ago and made his debut for new connections in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham but didn't last the pace. Better is expected this season but Benbecula has twice been beaten from this mark recently. Leviathan could provide the main threat as he will have needed his recent run at Exeter and is back on exactly the same mark as when successful at Stratford in March.
Starluck (IRE) 28-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, hit 2 out, lost place before last, 6th of 9, 10l behind Purple Bay (10-11) at Wincanton 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs.
Le Fin Bois (FR) 25-1 (11-8) Chasing leaders before 2nd, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 19th of 24, 48l behind Hawk High (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcap hdle Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Sweet Deal (IRE) 11-10fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, mistake 3 out, driven to lead before last, clear flat, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun beating Rolling Maul (11-2) by 10l, 12 ran.
Leviathan 5-1 (11-9) Raced keenly, led, pushed along and narrowly headed 3 out, stayed challenging and every chance when not much room on inside 2 out, ridden between last two, weakened approaching last, 4th of 5, 8l behind Dormello Mo (11-10) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy.
Flute Bowl 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, driven to chase leading pair and still every chance when stumbled and fell on bend before 2 out, in a race won by Floral Spinner (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy, 9 ran.
Benbecula 2-1fav (11-12) Led until 2nd, prominent, ridden before 2 out, one pace before last, went 3rd close home, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Presenting Arms (10-13) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf in Oct.
