led and set steady pace, quickened tempo after 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, soon weakened into 3rd
raced keenly, tracked leader, pushed along after 3 out, soon ridden, closed to lead 2 out, soon clear
held up in 3rd, pushed along after 3 out, went 2nd after next, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
NonRunner
NonRunner
The four-year-old Byzantine Empire got off the mark in a novices' contest at Southwell and makes his handicap debut from what looks a reasonable mark. THAHAB IFRAJ (NAP) was in excellent form at the backend of last year winning two from three and returned with a convincing success at this level at Market Rasen and gets the nod to overcome a 6lb rise. Green Or Black is on a long losing run but has won around here while another course winner, Celestial Force, takes a big drop in class having run in a Haydock Grade 3 handicap last time. Esprit De Somoza has run on the Flat, over fences and in bumpers since last over hurdles well over two years ago.
Esprit De Somoza (FR) 40-1 (9-12) Dwelt raced wide, in touch, headway over 3f out, soon tracked leaders, ridden and weakened final furlong, 6th of 12, 16 1/2l behind Military Mission (8-11) at Salisbury 1m 2f stks (5) sft in May.
Celestial Force (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, lost place before 2 out, 12th of 14, dist behind Copperless (10-4) at Haydock 2m hcp (1) sft in May.
Byzantine Empire 3-1 (10-7) Prominent in third, progress into second before 2 out, jumped to front 2 out, jumped well last, comfortably, won at Southwell 2m (4) gs in May beating Gregor (10-13) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Green Or Black (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Chased winner, mistake 4th, led 3 out, soon headed, led again before 2 out, driven and headed last, weakened flat, last of 4, 4 3/4l behind Kilmington Rose (11-1) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gs in May.
Thahab Ifraj (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Prominent, challenged last, drifted left, led flat, stayed on, ridden out, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Jun beating Mercian Prince (11-11) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
