held up in rear, headway after 4 out, chasing leaders when mistake next, weakened next
tracked leader, driven to challenge 2 out, short of room approaching last, no danger after
held up, never dangerous
keen in touch, headway after 3 out, hung left under pressure when challenging approaching last, soon every chance, no extra closing stages
made all, set steady pace until after halfway, challenged from 2 out, hit last, held on gamely
held up, headway 4 out, weakened after next
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, effort when mistake 2 out, not clear run approaching last, switched right after last, ran on, never reached winner
Outcrop won here in August but previous efforts on softer ground temper enthusiasm. COUSIN OSCAR won on soft going here in 2017 and was second on an easy surface at Musselburgh in March when last seen. His lack of a recent run is a concern but he’s still preferred to stablemate Prince Khurram, a first-flight faller at Kelso, and gets a tentative vote. Little Rory Mac has an even longer absence to overcome but G'day Aussie is starting to look well treated and makes more appeal than the Llewellyn pair Nabhan and Borak.
Little Rory Mac (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Raced keenly, held up mid-division, mistake 4 out, headway before next, chased front pair when mistake 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, not fluent last, never able to challenge, 3rd of 14, 7 1/4l behind Betameche (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Cousin Oscar (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Led, clear 2 out, soon ridden, 1 length ahead last, headed and no extra run-in, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Kelpies Myth (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Borak (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Dwelt, soon switched left to inside, held up, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 8, 3/4l behind Road To Paris (8-12) at Bath 1m 6f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Outcrop (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Held up in rear, close up before 4th, outpaced before 2 out, rallied last, ridden and stayed on to press winner flat, just held, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Canford Thompson (11-0) at Kelso 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Prince Khurram 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, fell 1st, at Kelso 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Nabhan 20-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 7 1/4l behind Paths Of Glory (9-2) at Chepstow 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
G'day Aussie 7-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway on outside 3 out, ridden and stayed on same pace from next, 4th of 8, 5l behind Minella Mojo (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
