held up towards rear, headway on inside over 4f out, plugged on final 2f, hard ridden to 3rd final furlong, no chance with leading duo
with leader, led narrowly 9f out, stayed on inside and headed over 1f out, soon outpaced and no chance with winner
took keen hold, held up in last pair, headway on outside over 6f out, weakened 5f out, tailed off
in touch, went 3rd 5f out, 2nd travelling well over 2f out, came towards centre and led over 1f out, soon clear, easily
took keen hold, chased leaders over 10f, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened over 4f out, tailed off
narrow lead until 9f out, chased leader until ridden over 2f out, one pace and no impression on leading duo when lost 3rd final furlong
in touch, pushed along on outside over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
This is probably not the most competitive of finales so Towcester winner Max Laurie has to go on the short-list, despite the 7lb penalty. Mr Supreme refused to settle on his debut at Wetherby so probably did well to finish third and further improvement is likely, while Upthemsteps and Wait No More have both won between the flags. But a chance is taken on Donald McCain's newcomer DIOCLES, who is closely related to the useful Mendo and is likely to know his job at the first time of asking.
Max Laurie (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 5f out, ridden to chase leader 2f out, led 1f out, driven out, won at Towcester 2m NH flat (5) sft in Nov beating Bardolf (11-0) by 1l, 13 ran.
Bunclody 33-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway on outside 5f out, effort to chase leading pair when stumbled 3f out, kept on same pace final 2f, no impression, 4th of 13, 13l behind Lucky Landing (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Nov.
Cloudy Joe (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Led, pushed along over 5f out, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly soon after, 12th of 14, 24l behind Kasbadali (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in May.
Diocles (IRE) Bob Back gelding out of Ardrina.
Flag Dancer 40-1 (10-6) Towards rear, pushed along 8f out, tailed off over 5f out, 11th of 14, well behind Our Mick (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f cond & am NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Mr Supreme (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, outpaced over 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure final 2f, no impression, 3rd of 8, 18l behind Arrow Barrow (11-3) at Wetherby 2m NH flat (5) sft in Apr.
Upthemsteps (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Tr ldrs, 2nd 5out, ld 4out, ld over last, hdd run in, qcknd found extra to ld late, won at Castletown-Geoghegan 3m ire ptp gs in Apr beating Spiker The Biker (12-0) by hd, 11 ran.
Wait No More (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Bhd, last from 7th, 8th 4out, prog to 6th next, so in 5th 2out, prog to ld last, kow, won at Athlacca 3m ire ptp fm in May, 14 ran.
Full Ov Beans 40-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 4f out, went 4th over 2f out, never on terms, no impression, 4th of 12, 23l behind Mercury Bay (11-4) at Stratford 2m NH flat (5) gf in Jun.
