chased leading pair, went 2nd 1st, not fluent 3rd, driven along before 3 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
held up off the pace in 5th, blundered 2nd, not fluent 4th, dropped to last trio after 7th, 4th bypassing omitted 10th, mistake 4 out, plugged on into modest 3rd close home
chased leading tio, mistake and lost place 4th, reminders in last trio before next, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
made all, kept on strongly and in command from 3 out, ridden out after last, unchallenged
chased winner until 1st, chased leaders, pushed along before 9th, lost 3rd approaching 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
steadied rear, headway chasing leading trio from 3rd, blundered 9th, weakened approaching 4 out, poor 5th when mistake 2 out
held up in last pair, dropped to rear 7th, headway into 3rd approaching 4 out, one pace next, lost modest 3rd close home
His Excellency was only beaten half-a-length when last appearing in this lower grade and that was off a 3lb higher mark. He's yet to convince that he stays this far however. There are no stamina reservations regarding Foundry Square as he was placed over 3m4f at Stratford last time but this will be his first-ever run in a handicap. The Nephew weakened quickly once headed at Newton Abbot last month but may have needed the run. He should do better here but Jimmy The Hat is 12lb higher than when scoring at Ayr in March and only arrives off the back of a win in a seller over hurdles. TRADITIONAL BOB has a lot more to do than when winning at Ffos Las but still has some scope over fences and could be worth risking off a low weight. The luckless French Ties is preferred to Entertain Me of the others.
His Excellency (IRE) 17-2 (10-8) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened before last, 5th of 13, 11l behind Vulcanite (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gf in Jun.
Foundry Square (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner from next, lost 2nd last, one pace, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Paint The Clouds (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gs in May.
Jimmy The Hat (IRE) 5-6fav (11-4) In rear, hampered 1st, headway after next, reminder after 4 out, driven 3 out, not look keen when not fluent 2 out, responded to pressure to challenge last, led flat, stayed on, won at Wetherby 2m 4f sell hdl (5) gs in May beating Mubrook (10-5) by 3l, 10 ran.
The Nephew (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Raced keenly, led and clear 3rd, went right next (water)reduced lead 3 out (water), soon ridden, hit 2 out and headed, chased easy winner until weakened flat, 4th of 5, 9l behind Able Deputy (11-1) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Jun.
Entertain Me 16-1 (9-11) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, soon lost place, pushed along after 9th, stayed on approaching last, soon went 4th, no impression, 4th of 8, 25l behind Minella For Value (11-3) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in May.
Traditional Bob (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) In rear, mistake 2 out, headway over 1f out, kept on to lead inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Jun beating Papradon (11-12) by 4l, 6 ran.
French Ties (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) In rear, headway before 3 out, every chance before last, kept on to chase winner run-in, just held, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Qoubilai (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
