mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and one paced from next
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, effort between last 2, soon no extra
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened last
disputed lead until hit 2 out, one pace after
disputed lead until no extra from 2 out
held up in touch, headway when not fluent 2 out, led last, ridden out
mid-division, headway 3 out, led after next, headed last, kept on
always in rear
towards rear, headway when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden and effort, kept on same pace
reluctant to race, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
A decent contest for the track and time of year and it's attracted some useful handicappers from far afield. David Pipe has sent recent acquisition His Excellency and Hunterview up from the west country while Cause Of Causes has travelled over from Ireland and Nicky Henderson runs First In The Queue, a winner at Bangor earlier this month. Welsh raider KIAN'S DELIGHT is improving fast, however, judged on his second to Local Hero in a Listed handicap at Market Rasen last month when racing from 3lb out of the handicap. Absinthe and Maoi Chinn Tire will struggle to reverse that form here and Peter Bowen's four-year-old looks the one to beat as this looks too tough for the mare Cool Baranca and Smalib Monterg while Ultimate will be back over fences shortly.
His Excellency (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Always towards rear, swished tail halfway, 15th of 20, well behind Bob Lingo (10-3) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd.
Cause Of Causes (USA) 25-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear on inner, smooth headway approaching 2 out and went 5th entering straight, ridden and stayed on well run-in, just failed, 2nd of 20, hd behind Rebel Fitz (11-5) at Galway 2m hcp hdl sft.
First In The Queue (IRE) 15-8fav (10-11) Always prominent, led 3 out, driven and stayed on gamely flat, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd beating Alazan (10-8) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Hunterview 11-4fav (11-6) With leader, led after 4th, hard pressed 2 out, soon ridden, headed and one pace approaching last, no extra when lost 3rd flat, 4th of 7, 10l behind Dorabelle (10-10) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl (2) gf in Jun '11.
Ultimate 20-1 (9-8) Led to 6th, remained prominent, in touch when fell 5 out, in a race won by Bellvano (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 21 ran.
Kian's Delight 8-1 (10-0) In touch, chased winner after last, kept on, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Local Hero (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Jul.
Absinthe (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) Held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, kept on after last, 4th of 16, 4l behind Local Hero (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Jul.
Cool Baranca (GER) 6-1 (11-7) Keen tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, headed run in, rallied to lead again final strides, won at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jul beating Cadore (10-7) by hd, 6 ran.
Smalib Monterg (FR) 2-1fav (11-0) Held up in last trio, not fluent 4th, smooth headway on inside before 2 out, quickened to lead approaching last where not fluent, soon clear, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Jul beating Dantari (11-3) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Parson's Punch 11-4 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place soon after 3 out, last of 6, 11l behind Cool Baranca (11-7) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jul.
Maoi Chinn Tire (IRE) 50-1 (10-3) Towards rear, pushed along 5th, weakened from 3 out, 10th of 16, 24l behind Local Hero (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Jul.
