held up in rear, took keen hold, not always fluent, headway 3 out, led before last bend, clear approaching last, idled flat, driven out
bumped 1st, soon chasing leaders, led after 2 out, headed before last bend, held by winner after, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, lost place when not fluent 2nd, pushed along 5th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
chased leader until 5th, lost place next, stayed on into 3rd when mistake last, no impression
led, mistake 2 out, soon headed, weakened before last
towards rear, jumped left 1st, last 3rd, well beaten 3 out
took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, weakened after 2 out
The top three on the racecard are closely matched on official ratings but Vancouver seems more effective over fences at present and Doubly Clever needs to confirm he's back to form after his win last time which came after a fallow period. RAKHINE STATE was well beaten the last day in a Downpatrick handicap when better was expected but a previous win at Perth and a Clonmel maiden hurdle win earlier in the year appeal as the best form and Gordon Elliott is astute with his raids from Ireland. Show And Go could well prove the main threat as he had useful form with Henry De Bromhead in Ireland and this is only a third start for the Newland yard.
Rakhine State (IRE) 3-1jfav (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, 3rd on inner from halfway, dropped to 4th from 3 out and soon pushed along, no impression and kept on same pace from next, 5th of 8, dist behind Killiney Court (11-7) at Downpatrick 2m 3f hcp Yielding in Jun.
Doubly Clever (IRE) 15-8 (10-12) Prominent until 4th, chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, went 7 lengths 3rd 3 out, closed from last, led close home, won at Uttoxeter 2m (5) gs in Jun beating Skeaping (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Vancouver 11-4 (11-10) Jumped right, chased leaders, lost place 2nd, bumped next, headway 4 out, challenged 2 out, held flat, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Spring Steel (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Empresario (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, went 2nd from 4th until before 12th, soon weakened, 10th of 11, 32 1/2l behind Wilberdragon (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Show And Go (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Mid-division, pushed along towards rear 5th, driven and well beaten 3 out, 6th of 11, 27 1/4l behind Slaine (11-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Yorkshire Star (IRE) 66-1 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, modest headway before 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 15, 17l behind Show's Over (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Unsuspected Girl (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 4th, not fluent 5th, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 8, dist behind Bannixtown Glory (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn (5) gd in Jul.
