jumped right, made all, awkward 1st, ridden after 3 out, joined after 2 out, found extra to pull away flat
held up in 3rd, not fluent 3rd or 6th, went 2nd 7th, ridden and every chance before last, no impression on winner flat
chased winner until 7th, outpaced 10th, behind from next
NonRunner
NonRunner
Treacys Jim looks out of his depth but the others all look to be decent novices. Byzantine Empire is 2-2 over the larger obstacles and beat RESTANDBETHANKFUL and Thursday’s Fontwell winner Hell Red at Southwell in June but Olly Murphy’s charge comes out best at the weights here. Mortlach has been doing his winning in handicaps and is the stable’s second choice on jockey bookings.
Mortlach 9-2 (11-10) Led, extended advantage to go four lengths clear 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, joined approaching final fence when carried right and blundered, soon no extra, weakened closing stages, 3rd of 5, 7 3/4l behind Statuario (11-1) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Restandbethankful 9-4 (11-4) Led, driven after 4 out, headed before last, weakened flat, 3rd of 4, 14 3/4l behind Byzantine Empire (11-4) at Perth 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Treacys Jim (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Led until 4th, chased winner until after 4 out, weakened next, 3rd of 4, 35l behind Wild Max (12-0) at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gd in Jul.
Byzantine Empire 5-4fav (11-4) Held up in rear, raced keenly, headway 4th, challenged 2 out, led before last, edged left flat, driven out, won at Perth 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul beating The Greek (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Hell Red (FR) 4-7fav (11-10) Chased leader, headway to dispute lead before 6 out, led from before 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, readily, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Aug beating Ragamuffin (10-11) by 26l, 2 ran.
