chased leaders, went 3rd when ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair
tracked leaders on outside, blundered 3rd, went 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, led before last, kept on
tracked leaders on inside, chased leader 3 out to next, kept on same pace, modest 4th before last
led, edged left when ridden between last 2, headed before last, kept on same pace, well held flat
not fluent 1st, tracked leader, lost place 3 out, behind from next
held up in rear, struggling after 4 out, blundered next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
It’s more than two years since Katgary last ran over hurdles and he’s on a high enough mark. Desert Island Dusk seems to reserve his best for Hexham and was well beaten there off this mark last time but Dear Sire has won at four different tracks this year, though has been raised 4lb since his latest success at Stratford. MIRSAALE (NAP) looked a nice prospect when winning twice here at the end of last summer. Placed in a couple of Grade 2 novice events later, this will be only his second run in a handicap and a return to winning ways looks on the cards.
Katgary (FR) 9-4 (11-12) Held up in touch, headway chasing leaders 4th, left in close 3rd and hit 7th, lost 3rd and weakened after 4 out, 4th of 5, 34 3/4l behind Dream Bolt (10-13) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Mirsaale 5-1 (11-12) Made most, hard pressed 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, weakened into 4th flat, 4th of 8, 18 1/2l behind Skipthecuddles (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 5f (4) sft in Feb.
Traditional Dancer (IRE) 13-8fav (9-1) Raced wide in touch, headway to track leaders halfway, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 12 3/4l behind Jonny Delta (9-2) at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp (6) gf in Jul.
Dear Sire (FR) 15-8 (11-12) Jumped right, made all, not fluent 4th, clear on home bend, hanging left before mistake last, ridden out, won at Stratford 2m (4) gd in Jul beating Rebel Yeats (10-12) by 6l, 6 ran.
Desert Island Dusk 7-4fav (11-12) Led to 2nd, headed 4 out, in 3rd and weakened before last, 5th of 6, 25 3/4l behind Vercingetorix (11-6) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Silver Duke (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Always towards rear, last of 12, 18 3/4l behind Haymarket (9-10) at Musselburgh 1m 1f hcp (6) gf in Jul.
