mid-division, took keen hold, headway when hit wing 3 out, challenged last, led flat, stayed on
held up in last pair, took keen hold, headway approaching 3 out, hung left and went 2nd before 2 out until before last, no extra towards finish
tracked leader, hit 7th, led before 3 out, pressed and ridden flat, headed flat, held close home
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened last
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 5th, not fluent and ridden 7th, weakened before 2 out
held up in last pair, not fluent 7th, soon outpaced
mid-division, took keen hold, weakened approaching 3 out
Diamond MM was only beaten a neck by the in-form Silver Lily at Market Rasen 12 months ago but he's been put up 4lb since. Ixora was highly tried at Market Rasen last time after wins here and at Worcester and could easily bounce back while Am I Blue won here in the spring and was second over this trip at Hereford two runs ago, though is probably better over further. DRILL SERGEANT has never won beyond 2m but was fourth over this trip in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Aintree in April and takes a big drop in class here. Donald McCain's six-year-old should be good enough to concede weight all round.
Drill Sergeant 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden 5th, soon weakened, 17th of 22, 48l behind Eradicate (11-5) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in May.
Lancetto (FR) 25-1 (10-10) Prominent, 5th 4 out, 3rd 3 out, weakened next, 17th of 19, 45l behind Peak Raider (9-3) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy in Feb.
Ixora (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 4th, challenged 3 out briefly, outpaced and no impression before 2 out, 6th of 16, 13l behind Viva Colonia (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Jul.
Am I Blue 16-1 (10-4) Led, ridden and headed after 4 out, soon lost place, no impression from next, 5th of 11, 14l behind Red Not Blue (11-9) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Mumbles Pier (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 6th, weakened before next, pulled up after 7th, in a race won by Fade To Grey (10-8) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jul, 8 ran.
Alesandro Mantegna (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, blundered 3rd, mistake 7th, driven 12th, blundered and struggling next, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Holmwood Legend (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Diamond Mm (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) In touch, led 2 out, mistake last, driven flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Silver Lily (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
