led, not fluent 1st, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, no extra next
tracked leader until 4 out, 4th and weakening 3 out
held up towards rear, headway on outside 4th, outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, not fluent and lost place 3rd, reminder after 6th, struggling 10th, mistake next, well beaten 4 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, led before next, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on flat
held up in rear, headway 4th, mistake 12th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, led when pecked 2 out, soon clear, reduced lead flat, driven out
in rear, cajoled along 7th, reminder before 9th, struggling 11th, well beaten 4 out
This looks wide-open but Too Many Diamonds is defending an unbeaten record on the track, though carries a penalty for last week’s success. Riddlestown is also a course and distance winner and arrives off the back of a victory at Towcester while Bestwork’s run at Newton Abbot was too bad to be true. Alf 'n' Dor is from last year’s winning stable but he had his limitations exposed with his only win over fences coming in a seller. COPPER WEST took a long time to warm to his task when beaten by sole rival Sword Of Fate here on his fencing bow but he undoubtedly has a future over fences and this longer trip will be right up his street. Foundation Man is treading water off his current mark but still preferred to Towcester second Reckless Behavior.
Bestwork (FR) 6-4fav (12-0) With leader early, lost place from 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in May.
Riddlestown (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) With leaders, led 5 out, pressed before 2 out, bumped by rival after last, held on comfortably`, won at Towcester 3m hcp (4) gf in May beating Mercers Court (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Foundation Man (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up on outside, closed 7th, went 3rd after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 8 3/4l behind Zolfo (10-3) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Reckless Behavior (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Tracked winner, outpaced and jumped left 4 out, kept on from 2 out, went 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 13l behind Take To Heart (10-12) at Towcester 2m 6f (4) gf in May.
Copper West (IRE) 4-6fav (11-6) Led until 2nd, chased sole rival, ridden when pecked 3 out, held from next, last of 2, 3 1/2l behind Sword Of Fate (11-12) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Too Many Diamonds (IRE) 6-4fav (12-0) Mid-division, tracked leaders 10th, went 2nd 4 out, led next, clear 2 out, unchallenged after, eased flat, very easily, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun beating Oscar O'scar (11-9) by 11l, 9 ran.
Alf 'n' Dor (IRE) 11-8fav (10-9) Towards rear, headway when blundered 4 out, kept on run-in to take 2nd place towards finish, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Gone Platinum (10-3) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in May.