chased leaders on outside, went 2nd 6th until 7th, pushed along 4 out, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd or 4 out, headway 3 out, no impression from 2 out
led until 3rd, mistake 6th, led 7th, headed next, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, no impression on winner flat, kept on
prominent, led 3rd until 7th, led 8th, headed after 3 out, 3rd and no impression before last, kept on same pace
held up in mid-division, took keen hold, headway 7th, led 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well (hand time)
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, not fluent and lost place 6th, closed after 7th, well held from 2 out
in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, headway on outside 4th, pushed along after 5th, not fluent 7th, lost place before 8th, well held from 2 out
tracked leaders, pulled hard, lost place 3rd, not much room after 5th, slow 6th, behind 8th, pulled up before 3 out
NonRunner
NonRunner
Bird On The Wire is still 4lb higher than his winning mark but FINE BY ME has a useful pilot aboard this afternoon and a mark of 86 does not appear onerous on a first try at handicapping. Ben Lilly ran in the Ascot Gold Cup last year but his form over hurdles has been fair without quite being good enough to get his head in front. Robeam has been a regular in staying handicaps and Lewis Stones knows the six-year-old particularly well.
Espinator (FR) 18-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, weakened under pressure after 3 out, last of 9, 25 3/4l behind Motion In Limine (12-0) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gs in Jun.
Cheating Jack (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leader, led 2nd, headed after 4 out, chased leader, lost 2nd 3 out, chased leaders, 4th and weakening when jinked right saddle slipped and unseated rider 2 out, at Worcester 2m mdn (4) gd in Jun.
Bird On The Wire (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Disputed lead, led clearly 4 out, kept on until pushed along and headed last, ridden run-in, no extra, 2nd of 12, 3 1/4l behind Bagan (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Robeam (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in midfield, dropped towards rear 8th, headway when ridden before 3 out, stayed on to chase leader last, kept on flat, 3rd of 17, 3 1/2l behind Present Storm (11-6) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Fine By Me (IRE) 125-1 (11-2) Mid-division, struggling after 5th, well behind 3 out, 7th of 12, dist behind Current Mood (11-5) at Chepstow 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Top Drawer (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place 6th, soon behind, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Presentandcounting (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (3) gd in Jun.
Tre A Peni 18-1 (10-2) Towards rear, some headway into 6th 3 out, no further impression, 7th of 13, 20l behind Bright Sunbird (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Culverwell 100-1 (10-0) Mid-division, mistake 8th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Ben Lilly (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Held up tracking leaders in 4th on inside, closer 10th, pushed along before 2 out, ridden between last two, no extra in 4th, 4th of 6, 11 1/2l behind You Name Him (11-8) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Boomtime Banker (IRE) 9-2 (10-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led home turn, shaken up before 2 out where not fluent, ridden before last and jumped left, stayed on well flat, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jul beating Ami Des Flots (12-1) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
