chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon driven clear, easily
led, hit and headed 2 out, weakened flat
raced freely in touch, not fluent 2nd, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, kept on well to go 2nd after last, no chance with winner
chased leader, effort 3 out, soon no impression
chased leaders, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, mistake 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in touch, effort when not fluent 3 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, weakened before 3 out
held up towards 3 out, chasing leaders when mistake 2 out, never on terms
FRANCISCAN made mistakes on his debut at Bangor but this formerly useful Flat winner still had the speed to see off his two rivals. The second has won both subsequent starts while the third was a previous scorer so the form looks solid and Donald McCain's charge can give the weight to dual bumper winner Clever Cookie and Pulpitarian, who won three times on the Flat in the States and was a promising third at Aintree last month. Bellgrove and Tourtiere both disappointed last time however.
Franciscan 4-9fav (10-12) Led to 2nd, ridden to lead again 2 out, not fluent last, ridden out, won at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug beating Saint Thomas (10-12) by 4l, 3 ran.
Bellgrove (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division and keen, headway over 3f out, kept on same pace in 4th, 4th of 12, 6l behind It's All An Act (11-9) at Perth 2m NH flat (5) gs in Sep.
Clever Cookie 5-2 (11-9) Keen towards rear, headway 2f out, ran on to lead final strides, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Jun beating Western Xpress (11-2) by nk, 13 ran.
Figaro 8-1 (10-12) Led, blundered and joined 4th, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Cockney Sparrow (9-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Inniscastle Boy 66-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden after 4 out, never dangerous, 12th of 18, 40l behind Redpender (11-0) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (5) sft.
New Academy 12-1 (11-3) Led 3f, left in lead before halfway, headed before 3f out, kept on, no extra last 50 yards, 3rd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Zermatt (10-12) at Hexham 2m nhf (6) gd in Apr.
Pulpitarian (USA) 33-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, closed 5th, ridden and went 2nd briefly last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Garde La Victoire (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Thorlak (FR) 9-4fav (11-4) Tracked leader, pushed along and lost place over 4f out, 8th of 15, 34l behind Green Flag (11-4) at Hexham 2m mdn NH flat (6) gd in Mar '12.
Tourtiere 50-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened from 2 out, 9th of 12, 34l behind The Liquidator (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.