in rear, blundered 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 8th
never travelled in last trio, pushed along and struggling after 6th, never on terms, tailed off
took keen hold, headway to chase leaders when bumped 2nd, went 2nd travelling well before 2 out, led 2 out, soon clear, eased towards finish
held up in last pair, headway to chase leaders approaching 7th, went 2nd soon after, led 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, no chance with eased down winner
chased leaders, driven and one pace after 4 out, plugged on to modest 3rd approaching last
chased leader until after 7th, blundered next, soon lost place, plugged on to modest 4th in closing stages
led, ridden and headed 3 out, chased leader until ridden before 2 out, dropped to modest 4th approaching last, weakened to 5th in closing stages
Diamond Eclipse undoubtedly has the ability to win a race of this nature but is proving difficult to place and was pulled up behind Bennys Quest when favourite at Worcester last month. Mibleu, My Condor and Temple Place appear to be on the downgrade while the handicapper may have got to Blue Hills while Denton Ryal finished tailed off on her only previous start over fences. LUCY'S LEGEND kept on well to win a novices' handicap over C&D last month and has plenty of scope for further improvement. She can defy a 9lb rise in the weights.
Denton Ryal 4-1 (10-2) Prominent, took keen hold, led 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, 3rd and beaten last, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Red Jade (11-10) at Worcester 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gd in Aug.
Lucy's Legend (IRE) 22-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, went 2nd next, led last, driven out, won at Newton Abbot 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Aug beating Kauto Shiny (10-11) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Mibleu (FR) 10-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, bad mistake 2nd, blundered badly 7th, weakened 2 out, last of 5, 29l behind Mister Matt (10-10) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jul.
Bennys Quest (IRE) 11-4fav (11-8) Chased leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, soon no impression, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Guns of Love (9-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gf in Aug.
Blue Hills 10-1 (10-9) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, struggling 8th, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Lucy's Legend (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Aug.
Diamond Eclipse (IRE) 3-1fav (11-8) Held up, hit 2nd, headway on inside 5th, mistake and dropped rear 7th, pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Bennys Quest (11-6) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Aug, 13 ran.
My Condor (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Led until 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 12, 30l behind Schinken Otto (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
Temple Place (IRE) 33-1 (9-9) Outpaced in rear of main group, not fluent 2nd, ridden and struggling 8th, tailed off and pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Marodima (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in May, 8 ran.
