tracked leader, not fluent when led 6th, headed before 2 out, no extra
chased leaders, 2nd 5 out, led before 2 out, driven clear last, eased closing stages
mid-division, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, stayed on into 3rd approaching last, never able to challenge
held up in rear, under pressure 6th, beaten 5 out, tailed off
held up in rear, beaten 4 out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden after next, never on terms
led, keen, headed 6th, rallied 4 out, under pressure next, weakened 2 out
A modest contest complicated by the fact that Twotwothree was due to run yesterday at Southwell. The four-year-old Noble Saffron has a penalty for winning at Plumpton but is still racing from out of the handicap. He gets cheekpieces to wrest further improvement but we’ll take BENI LIGHT to bounce back from a defeat at Worcester as his stamina will be an asset on ever-easing ground. Emissaire is a half-brother to a Grade 2 winner over fences in France so the switch to chasing should suit.
Beni Light (FR) 7-4fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4th, led when mistake 3 out, headed 2 out, not fluent last, no impression flat, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Phoenix Rock (11-1) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Twotwothree (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Chased leader until after 4th, chased leaders, weakened 3 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Two Hoots (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Emissaire (FR) 11-2 (12-6) Pressed leader, led after 1st until after 3rd, chased winner who went clear after next, lost 2nd 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, 6th of 8, dist behind Christmas In Usa (11-8) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Ballybreen (IRE) 66-1 (11-3) Held up, always behind, tailed off 4 out, 8th of 10, dist behind Good Boy Bobby (12-1) at Ffos Las 2m 4f (4) sft in Apr.
Stupid Cupid (IRE) 40-1 (10-6) Always behind, 9th of 10, 29 3/4l behind Timeforben (11-7) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Best Director (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) In rear, not fluent 9th, headway after 12th, left 3rd after 3 out, no impression on winner, one pace, 3rd of 9, 24l behind Nightline (11-10) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (4) gd in May.
Noble Saffron 20-1 (10-0) Pressed leader, led 2nd to 4th, led again 6th, headed before 4 out, led again before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (4) gf in Sep beating Torhousemuir (10-13) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.