shade keen, held up, in touch, smooth headway tracking leader approaching 2 out, challenging when hit last and stumbled, rallied gamely to lead towards finish
in rear, ridden and plugged on from after 2 out, no threat
chased leader, led after 3 out, ridden and joined last, driven and kept on run-in, headed towards finish
in touch, headway tracking leaders approaching 6th, ridden and weakened before 2 out
took keen hold, tracked leaders, pushed along after 6th, weakened before 3 out, soon behind, tailed off
chased leaders, switched left approaching 2 out, driven in 3rd and stayed on same pace run-in
led until pushed along after 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching next
Big Chief Benny goes handicapping for the first time on his reappearance having won a novice event at Chepstow back in April. Oscar Rock can race off a much lower mark back over hurdles on his return to action while Sky Khan won last year’s renewal but is 5lb higher today and was well beaten at Wetherby last month. DUKE STREET (NAP) is preferred as he went close off today’s mark in this grade at Kempton on last month’s comeback and should be bang there at the finish with a similar effort. Maxie T looks best of the rest.
Oscar Rock (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Slightly hampered 19th, towards rear, plugged on from 2 out, never a threat, 7th of 20, 14 1/2l behind The Young Master (11-1) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Sky Khan 7-1 (11-11) In touch in mid-division, ridden after 9th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 8, 28 1/4l behind Nautical Nitwit (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Duke Street (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, effort 2 out, chasing winner when mistake last, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Younevercall (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Big Chief Benny (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, challenged before last, soon ridden, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) gd in Apr beating Beallandendall (11-5) by hd, 6 ran.
Maxie T 10-11fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, went 3rd before 4 out, pushed along 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 6, 24l behind Master Jake (12-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) sft in Mar.
Minstrels Gallery (IRE) 11-4 (9-7) Soon led, headed over 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 9 1/2l behind Jack Bear (8-10) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (5) sft in Jun.
Eminent Poet 9-4 (11-6) Led to 5th, remained close up, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 4, 25l behind Mystic Sky (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) gd in May.
