disputed lead, slight mistake 5th, led 9th, mistake next, strongly pressed when slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden, headed 2 out, no impression on winner when mistake at last, kept on one pace inside final furlong
soon disputed lead, slight mistake 4th, mistake 9th and headed, ridden and dropped to last before 3 out, bad mistake and trailing 3 out, no impression, jumped right at last
held up off pace in last, bot fluent at 3rd, went 3rd after 10th, headway into 2nd travelling well when slight mistake 3 out, improved to lead at next, soon pushed along and clear at last, kept on well run-in
tracked leaders in 3rd for much, last briefly after 10th, ridden in 3rd and no impression on leaders 3 out, kept on one pace
A small but select field headed at the weights by Secret Investor, who has an extra penalty for his Grade 2 victory at Ayr. He's also won over hurdles at that level and looks a fine prospect. Gordon Elliott runs both MENGLI KHAN and Ben Dundee. The former, a Grade 1 winning hurdler, made a successful chasing debut at Punchestown and though undoubtedly disappointing later his three placed efforts at the highest level suggest he can take this. The latter is a smart handicapper but has a lot to find as does the progressive Minella Fair but Real Steel, who ended his last campaign with an easy victory in a Grade A handicap at Punchestown, is another very smart prospect.
Secret Investor 2-1fav (11-0) With leader on outside, led when hit 4 out, mistake 2 out, driven clear approaching last, ridden out flat, ran on, won at Ayr 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr beating Louis' Vac Pouch (11-0) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Mengli Khan (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) A little keen, soon chased leaders, 6th halfway, bad mistake 4 out, one pace straight, 9th of 22, 13l behind Borice (10-2) at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Real Steel (FR) 5-2fav (11-10) Tracked leaders on inner, 3rd 5 out, disputed close 2nd on inner when left in front and clear 3 out, pushed along and clear after 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in May beating Hardline (11-10) by 6 1/2l, 12 ran.
Minella Fair (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) 3rd early, soon 2nd and led briefly from 1st, on terms from 4 out, led straight, jumped slightly left 2 out, quickly asserted, jumped slightly left again last, stayed on well run-in, easily (saddle slipped back during race), won at Limerick 2m 6f hvy in Oct beating Cracking Smart (11-12) by 8 1/2l, 4 ran.
Ben Dundee (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Rear of mid-division, some headway approaching 4 out, pushed along in 6th entering straight and slight mistake 2 out, no impression on principals in 4th before last, kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 14 1/4l behind O O Seven (11-1) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Yielding in May.
