held up in touch on outside, not fluent and went right 2nd, jumped slowly 4th, not fluent and ridden 6th, weakened after 3 out
led until 2nd, mistake next, not fluent 3 out, soon beaten, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, ridden before 6th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace and well held by front pair next
tracked leader, led 2nd, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on, no impression on winner
held up in rear, smooth headway from 5th to go 2nd 3 out, led next, comfortably
in rear, behind after 2nd, tailed off 6th, soon pulled up
Rajnagan has been making hay at a lower level but the handicapper has put him up 15lb since he completed his hat-trick at Newton Abbot just over a month ago and his winning run may come to an end here. Skye But N Ben was beaten in a Cartmel seller on his comeback run but useful Flat performer Brunston seems to be getting his act together over hurdles, though has been raised 7lb for beating Rampant Ronnie in less convincing fashion at Hereford than Rajnagan did earlier. HERON BAY was well beaten on his reappearance at Newton Abbot but will have need that run and is now only a pound higher than when second in a better race at Aintree in the autumn. Visored for the first time, he gets the vote here.
Brunston 10-3fav (11-12) Held up, headway 4 out, tracked leader going strongly after next, upsides and not fluent last, led soon after, comfortably, won at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun beating Rampant Ronnie (10-11) by 2l, 11 ran.
Ellerslie Tom 4-1 (11-10) Led, mistake 1st, jumped left throughout, headed 3rd, chased leaders, weakened 8th, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Fighting Chance (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr, 6 ran.
Skye But N Ben 7-1 (11-7) Held up 4th and last in touch, went 2nd soon after 3 out, lost place approaching last, no impression flat, 3rd of 4, 15l behind Puy D'Arnac (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gd in May.
Heron Bay 15-2 (11-0) Tracked leader until 2nd, chased leaders, driven before 5th, not fluent next, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 8, 35l behind Kylenoe Fairy (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
Domino Dancer (IRE) 7-1 (9-9) Tracked leader, led after 2nd, mistake 3rd, headed next, driven after 5th, no extra last, 5th of 14, 16l behind Ixora (9-11) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Jun.
Rajnagan (IRE) 4-7fav (10-11) Held up, took keen hold, headway 5th, challenged approaching 2 out, soon led, comfortably, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Jun beating Rampant Ronnie (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Whispering Wind (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) In rear, behind 3rd, tailed off, last of 14, well behind Ixora (9-11) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Jun.
