tracked leaders going well, went 2nd over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran green inside final furlong, comfortably
led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, niggled along 9f out, went 2nd over 5f out until over 2f out, edged left and one pace over 1f out
tracked leader until over 5f out, weakened over 4f out, tailed off
held up in touch in last, went 4th 5f out, outpaced from over 2f out, no impression
The Coolmore-owned Bandit Country is out of a hurdles winner and the betting may give the best clue to his chances on his racecourse debut. Frampton went close in a bumper at Thurles before joining Charlie Longsdon, though the form hasn't worked out so DEGOOCH looks the one to be on. The point-to-point winner just failed to hold on for victory at Newcastle on his debut under Rules and can go one better today. Midnight Chorister finished ahead of Lapworth when third at Southwell but neither make much appeal in this company.
Bandit Country (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Calomeria.
Degooch (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Led, ridden over 1f out, soon pressed, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Chidswell (11-2) at Newcastle 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Nov.
Frampton (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Waited with in mid-division, closer in 7th over 3f out, went 4th straight, no impression under pressure from over 1f out, stayed on well closing stages, 3rd of 14, 1l behind Gocheck (11-7) at Thurles 2m N H flat gd in Oct.
Lapworth (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Prominent, ridden and weakened over 3f out, 6th of 9, 40l behind Oscar Hoof (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f cond NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Midnight Chorister 11-1 (11-2) Chased leader, led after 1f, ridden and headed approaching final 2f, lost 2nd well over 1f out, hung left and weakened over 1f out, 4th of 6, 22l behind Prideofthecastle (11-9) at Stratford 2m NH flat (5) gd in May.
