tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3rd until 2 out, weakened after last
led, clear 5th until slow 9th, not fluent and ridden along from next, headed just before bend turning for home, soon well held by front pair
held up, closed 6th, hit 4 out, not fluent 2 out or last, challenged on bend just before tunr for home, led final 150 {} yards, headed towards finish
tracked leader until before 3rd, last when not fluent 9th, soon behind, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 9th, went 2nd 2 out, led just before bend turning for home, headed final 150 yards, stayed on to lead again towards finish
BOOK OF EXCUSES should be another for the champion jockey. He's won his last two over hurdles and has already been successful twice over fences in point-to-points. Fantasy King followed up a fourth here on debut with a second over track and trip last month when Baccalaureate was third and Mission Beach fifth. He may be the one to chase home the selection as Reaping Reward hasn't shown a great deal so far over the larger obstacles and is already a 10-year-old.
Baccalaureate (FR) 9-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, driven along in 3rd and stayed on same pace on long run from last, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Mr Satco (11-9) at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chs (4) gf in Jul.
Book Of Excuses (IRE) 7-4 (11-5) Made all, not fluent 3 out, hard ridden next, stayed on well, won at Perth 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul beating Apachee Prince (10-9) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Fantasy King 11-4 (11-9) Held up in last pair, headway 5th (water), chased winner approaching last, driven along 2f out, tried to close on idling winner, always held, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Mr Satco (11-9) at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chs (4) gf in Jul.
Mission Beach (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Last pair, jumped slowly 6th, struggling in rear before last, never involved, tailed off, 5th of 7, 39l behind Mr Satco (11-9) at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chs (4) gf in Jul.
Reaping The Reward (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, went 3rd before 11th until 4 out, never dangerous, 4th of 5, well behind Eduard (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gs in Apr.
