tracked leading trio, closer in 3rd after 10th, challenged 3 out, 2nd next, ridden to lead run-in, headed and no extra last strides
chased leader, led 14th until 4 out, chased leader, ridden and narrowly in front again next, dived at 2 out, headed run-in, rallied gamely under pressure to lead again towards finish
held up last, awkward 9th, pushed along in modest 4th before 3 out, no chance with leading trio
chased leading pair until after 10th, rallied 13th, led 4 out until narrowly headed next, still chance 2 out, weakened into 3rd before the last
led until 14th, weakened before 4 out
Never Learn is 2-2 around here and a sound stayer, as he showed when prevailing at Taunton in March. He should take all the beating if fully wound up but FLYING VERSE may just have his measure as he appears to have been transformed by a switch to Tom Symonds’ yard, finding only one too good at Stratford and Newton Abbot last month. Monkey Puzzle is better than he showed on his chasing bow at Taunton and has had wind surgery since so looks a better bet than veterans Follow The Swallow and Silver Man.
Flying Verse 11-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd before 15th, bumped next, led before 2 out, 1 length ahead when mistake last, headed and no extra run-in, 2nd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Soldier Of Love (11-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Monkey Puzzle 9-1 (11-11) Mid-division, not fluent 13th, ridden after 4 out, no impression, 8th of 13, 8 3/4l behind Don Lami (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Follow The Swallow (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, not fluent 3rd, closer disputing 3rd at 11th, hit next, outpaced when hit 14th, weakened and mistake 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, dist behind Valadom (11-3) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Never Learn (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 4th, closer at 10th, slight peck 12th, went 2nd 15th, upsides 3 out, slight lead and awkward last, always just doing enough, won at Taunton 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Putdecashonthedash (11-11) by hd, 6 ran.
Silver Man 50-1 (11-11) Chased leader until before 12th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind The Boola Bee (12-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) gd in Aug.
