tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 5th and slight mistake 5 out, ridden and no impression on leaders next, slight mistake 3 out, soon no danger
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden in 4th 3 out, soon no extra
settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra before 4 out, weakened and mistake 3 out
mid-division best, slight mistake 5 out, ridden and no impression next
tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, closer after 3 out, ridden to press leader entering straight, under pressure in 2nd 2 out, slight mistake last, no extra and dropped to 3rd run-in
settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, progress into 3rd before 5 out, ridden after 3 out, closer entering straight, under pressure 2 out, kept on into 2nd run-in, no impression on winner
mid-division best, ridden before 6 out, no impression in 7th 4 out, kept on one pace
reminders in rear early, ridden and no extra before 6 out, weakened
made all, slight mistakes 2nd and 6th, 5-length advantage before 5 out, slight mistake 4 out, ridden briefly after 3 out, ridden and pressed entering straight, slight mistake 2 out, asserted before last where slight mistake, kept on strongly run-in
mid-division and jumped big 1st, soon towards rear and not fluent, ridden and no extra 6 out, weakened and tailed off
mid-division best, ridden and no impression after 5 out
towards rear for most, never a factor, weakened 5 out
Gordon Elliott won this last year but Hermann Clermont's victories at Perth came in small fields over fences. Very Excellent has won over timber and has scored twice at Dundalk since November but three-times hurdles winner Scheu Time was well beaten in a similar race at Bellewstown last month when Politicise was also behind. Light Heidi won a Limerick handicap in April but has been well beaten in subsequent starts at Cartmel so a poor race can go to GAIUS (NAP). Three-times a winner on the Flat, he ran his best race for a very long time when a close third in a Listowel handicap last week and a repeat would probably be good enough.
Jetango (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, slight mistake 5th, 3rd halfway, 2nd 4 out, pushed along and no impression in 4th approaching straight, no extra after 2 out and mistake last, 4th of 17, 23 1/2l behind Winning Rascal (11-8) at Listowel 3m hcp gd in Sep.
Very Excellent (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd 2f out, weakened, 10th of 14, 10 1/2l behind Joupe (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Sep.
Scheu Time (IRE) 125-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, never a factor, no extra approaching straight, weakened, 11th of 12, dist behind Monas Melody (10-13) at Listowel 1m 6f gd in Sep.
Light Heidi (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Jumped right, led, clear 5th until 4 out, headed 3 out, no extra before last, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 25l behind Bon Retour (11-8) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Bentham (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon no impression, went moderate 7th at last, no impression, 6th of 16, 15 3/4l behind Grozni (12-0) at Navan 2m 6f hcp gd in Sep.
Politicise (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders on inner, moderate 4th 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 8th of 15, 19 1/4l behind Wicklow Flyer (10-8) at Bellewstown 2m 4f gd in Aug.
Sight Nor Seen (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake and almost unseated 3rd, weakened to 10th from halfway, soon no extra and pulled up before 3 out, at Downpatrick 2m 2f Good - Yielding in Sep.
Ballycastle Brat (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders and 4th halfway, pushed along before 2 out, soon no impression and weakened, 9th of 15, 19 3/4l behind Trishknowsbest (11-9) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
Emir De Rots (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders on outer, not fluent 5th and 3rd halfway, pushed along from 4 out, lost place and weakened before next, 10th of 13, 26 1/2l behind Dicebox (11-5) at Down Royal 3m hcp gd in Aug.
Big Tree (IRE) 50-1 (10-3) Raced handy, ridden and took lead 5 out, headed 4 out, weakening from 2 out, finished tailed off, last of 6, dist behind In Rem (10-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Light Fury (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Mid-division, checked on bend after 3rd and dropped to rear of mid-division, no impression after 3 out, weakened, 12th of 16, 14 1/2l behind Y Fyn Duw A Fydd (11-5) at Navan 2m hcp gd in Sep.
Sani Pass (IRE) 250-1 (9-11) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression 3f out, 12th of 16, 25 1/4l behind Sidiriya (9-3) at Galway 1m 4f mdn fll sft in Sep.
Hermann Clermont (FR) 7-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, hit 9th, not fluent 11th, mistake 4 out, outpaced and struggling when slipped up and fell on bend before 3 out, at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Gaius (FR) 50-1 (11-12) In touch, 5th after 5th, headway after 3 out, pushed along to lead before 2 out, pressed last where not fluent, soon headed and no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 16, 2 3/4l behind Penny Jar (11-0) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
