tracked leaders, effort on outside 2 out, soon challenged, every chance last, ridden and one pace flat, switched inside and stayed on closing stages, 3rd and held near finish
tracked leader, close up 4th, jumped into lead 3 out, hard pressed after next, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure flat, held on well
tracked leaders, held up in 4th after 3rd, lost place after 5 out, outpaced next, stayed on to regain 4th near finish, no impression
tended to jump left, always in rear, lost touch 3 out, tailed off
led, clear after 3rd until next, blundered and headed 7th, regained lead after 5 out, headed 3 out, ridden and no impression before last, lost well held 4th near finish
held up in 5th, chased leaders after 5 out, outpaced 3 out, ridden before last, rallied flat, took 2nd near finish, just held
Neither Halcyon Days nor Roxyfet were at their best in the spring but could figure if rediscovering some form. Middlebrow isn’t badly treated, despite top weight, and the handicapper has also given a chance to Ryalex, who has been difficult to train. SLEEP IN FIRST is a course and distance winner and may be the best of a modest bunch, even though he is still high enough in the weights and would have probably preferred a quicker surface.
Middlebrow (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Held up in rear trio, headway on inside 8th, no extra 2 out, lost 3rd last, 4th of 7, 20 1/2l behind Volvalien (11-9) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Halcyon Days 4-1fav (11-5) In touch main group, lost place after 6th, behind from next, no danger after, 6th of 10, 25 3/4l behind Endless Credit (11-12) at Hexham 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Sleep In First (FR) 11-2 (11-3) Behind, outpaced halfway, kept on from last, 5th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Xpo Universel (10-13) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Roxyfet (FR) 13-2 (11-3) Always behind, not fluent when tailed off 8th, last of 6, 37l behind Oak Vintage (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Ryalex (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Not fluent, led until 2 out, weakened flat, 7th of 15, 11 3/4l behind Celtic Flames (11-13) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Instingtive (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Held up in last pair, plugged on from 3 out, went 3rd next, no chance with 1st.2, 3rd of 6, 20 1/4l behind Orioninverness (11-10) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Sep.