held up early, chased leaders after 2nd, led briefly after 7th, pushed along on outer over 3 out, ran on into 2nd approaching last, mistake last and dropped to 4th, no extra closing stages
mid-division, headway after 9th, pushed along in close 3rd 2 out, ran on same pace from before last
led, mistake 6th and briefly headed, mistake 7th and reminder, close up before 9th, pushed along and lost place after 10th, ridden over 3 out and soon lost touch, pulled up before last
tracked leader, led briefly before 9th, led again after 10th, pushed along and pressed over 2 out, headed before last and soon weakened quickly
chased leaders, headway going well over 2 out, led before last, ridden out and in full control flat
held up in rear, mistake 4 out and dropped to last, outpaced over 3 out, closed steadily from under 2 out, kept on flat and just missed 4th
chased leaders early, dropped to rear of mid-division after 2nd, mistake 2 out and soon ridden in 5th, closed turning for home, ran on into 2nd after last, no match for winner
SPARKLEANDSHINE didn't pull up any trees in a couple of points in the spring but returned to Rules with a fine runner-up effort under the steadier of 12-4 over course and distance. He's been left on the same mark and a similar performance puts him in the firing line. Black Buble is not overly straightforward and was pulled up last time just when it looked that he'd maybe got to grips fully with fences. Not discounted, he is hard to predict. The Bees Knees possibly needs to come down a few pounds but his consistency is there for all to see and he should be competitive once again. A case can be made for both Hasankey and Admiral's Sunset at their best.
Hasankey (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) Settled at rear, came wide into straight and became detached, never a factor, 10th of 11, 13 1/4l behind Estrela Star (9-12) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in Jul.
The Bees Knees (IRE) 11-4 (12-0) Tracked leader in 2nd early, led after 8th, bad mistake 10th, headed over 2 out, soon readily outpaced by winner, well held after last, 2nd of 5, 12l behind That's A Given (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Black Buble (FR) 4-1 (11-9) Not jump well, chased leaders, struggling and reminder 9th, pulled up before 12th, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Sparkleandshine (IRE) 10-1 (12-4) Prominent in main group, headway to chase leader before 2 out, led at last, headed on run in, ran on, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Authorizo (11-8) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Fat Sam 11-1 (11-5) Raced in 3rd, headway into 2nd before 10th, pushed along 3 out, ridden and mistake 2 out, soon left behind by leaders, fell last, at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Rock On Tiger (FR) 15-2 (10-13) Led, joined 6th, pushed along run to 4 out, not fluent 4 out and immediately headed, weakening when fell 3 out, at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Admiral's Sunset 15-8 (10-8) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4 out, ridden and lost 2nd before 2 out, plugged on in 3rd, 3rd of 4, 3 1/4l behind Darling Du Large (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (4) sft in Jul.
