led until mistake and headed 3rd, led again next, headed 4 out, soon outpaced by winner, kept on same pace after last, lost 2nd close home
tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 10th, effort 4 out, soon outpaced, rallied 2 out, hung left closing stages, stayed on to take 2nd near finish
chased leaders, jumped left in places, headway 12th, led 4 out, soon clear, easily
mistake 1st, tracked leader, led 3rd, headed next, blundered and unseated rider 12th
VESPERAL DREAM has yet to sparkle over fences and is turned out again quickly after winning over hurdles at Wincanton on Sunday. But he's potentially very well treated if he can get his act together so looks the one to beat. West End doesn't find much off the bridle and has every chance at Ludlow last week while Book Of Excuses was soon tailed off at Hexham at the start of the month. Combustible Lady has been unable to win over hurdles off this sort of mark and Unknown Legend has been beaten five times in a row of today's rating.
Book Of Excuses (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Tracked leader, slow 1st, pushed along 8th, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Wakanda (11-8) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
West End (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway on inside 10th, hit 13th, outpaced before 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 29l behind First Fandango (11-11) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Vesperal Dream (FR) 2-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, last 5th, closed from next, not fluent 8th, led approaching last, clear flat, ridden out, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gf beating Byron Blue (11-12) by 8l, 5 ran.
Unknown Legend (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Keen led, ridden and headed 3 out, chased leaders, hit last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 8, 22l behind Midnight Charmer (11-1) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gd.
Combustible Lady (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Held up in last pair, headway after 3 out, close 3rd 2 out, ridden and stayed on same pace before last, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Della Sun (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Sep.
