led 1st, headed before 7th, led again next, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, not fluent 9th, headway after 4 out, 2nd 3 out, led next, ridden clear flat
held up in rear, headway on outside when blundered 7th, ridden before 3 out, soon one pace, mistake and no extra last
led until 1st, pressed leader, led before 7th, headed next, not fluent 4 out, weakened quickly
tracked leaders, ridden and one pace after 3 out, no extra last
tracked leaders, 2nd after 4 out, led approaching 3 out, headed and pecked 2 out, no impression on winner last
Vikekhal’s third at Worcester 10 days ago was his best run for a while and he’s well treated nowadays. Boss Des Mottes had New Kid In Town well beaten when second at Cartmel but Saffron Prince lacks a recent run and No Ceiling still looks a few pounds too high. ATLANTIC STORM fell on his chasing bow at Towcester in December but is sure to have had plenty of schooling since and a second over hurdles at Bangor last month suggests he’s in decent form at present.
Vikekhal (FR) 16-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, effort 3 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 5, 10 3/4l behind Capitoul (12-5) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Atlantic Storm (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway from 4 out, kept in by rival and bumped when trying to get out after 2 out, switched right and went 2nd before last, driven and stayed on, just held, 2nd of 9, nk behind Innocent Touch (11-11) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
No Ceiling (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway 3 out, ridden and one pace in 4th before last, no impression after, 4th of 10, 11 1/2l behind Modeligo (11-5) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
New Kid In Town (IRE) 16-1 (12-5) Pressed winner, led 3rd until 4th, lost place 2 out, weakened last, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Civil Unrest (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
Saffron Prince 3-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, ridden before last, kept on to lead close home, won at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Oct beating Crafty Roberto (11-11) by hd, 6 ran.
Boss Des Mottes (FR) 7-2cfav (11-5) Held up, closed 3rd, 4th and ridden before last bend, stayed on under pressure final 150 yards, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Civil Unrest (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.