took keen hold, tracked leaders on inside, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, one pace before last, no impression, hanging right flat
chased leaders on outside, ridden and pressing for 2nd before 2 out, stayed on same pace last
held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, hit 7th, some headway after next, weakened before 2 out
made all, clear after 3 out, all out
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd when mistake 2 out, soon lost 2nd and no impression, one pace
tracked winner until before 2 out, went 2nd again when edged left and not fluent last, stayed on, unable to challenge
held up in rear, not fluent 8th, well beaten before 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, driven and losing touch next, tailed off 7th, pulled up after 3 out
Nonrunner
Valid Point has won four from six around here, including this race last year on his reappearance off a 3lb lower mark. But this will be his first run for Claire Dyson and he'll probably be back over fences soon. Ballyheigue Bay was tailed off on his return to action at Fontwell and Mister Newby is still 7lb higher than when winning at Newbury in March, though Daniel Hiskett claims that amount. Worcester winner ORBY'S MAN (NAP) only weakened close home under a penalty in an above-average novice event at Wetherby next time. He doesn't look badly treated on his handicap debut and has more scope than the majority of these. Decoy has staged something of a revival lately and could be the pick of the remainder as Midnight Request is proving hard to place.
Ballyheigue Bay (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Raced wide, sometimes jumped right, led, mistake and headed 3rd, chased winner, hit 6th, pushed along before next, lost 2nd and weakened quickly soon after 3 out, left poor 3rd next, 3rd of 4, 48l behind Mile House (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Mister Newby (IRE) 15-8fav (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 8th, 5th and shaken up after 4 out, mistake and no impression 3 out, weakening when not fluent next, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Merrion Square (10-13) at Worcester 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Orby's Man (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Led until before 3rd, led 4th until 5th, led next, headed 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 8l behind Fort Worth (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Sunny Ledgend 15-2 (11-1) Mid-division, not fluent 8th, struggling 10th, well beaten when mistake 3 out, hampered 2 out, 5th of 8, well behind Friendly Society (10-8) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in May.
Malibu Sun 5-2 (10-13) Led, headed when not fluent 2nd, chased leader who went clear from 4th, lost 2nd and looked to struggling when fell 10th, in a race won by Lost Legend (11-12) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in May, 3 ran.
Malibu Rock 16-1 (11-0) Held up, some headway 3 out, soon weakened, blundered last, 8th of 13, 35l behind Ballyheigue Bay (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in May.
Cove 16-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders in 5th, driven and stayed on into 3rd flat, almost snatched 2nd, but no chance with winner, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Invicta Lake (11-0) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Rendezvous Peak 7-2 (11-0) In rear, not much room after 3 out, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, soon went 3rd, one pace, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Lily Little Legs (10-2) at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Decoy (FR) 13-8fav (11-6) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, headed 2 out, one pace in 3rd, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Sendiym (10-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Sep.
Valid Point (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Bumped 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd 9th, hit 11th, blundered and lost 2nd 4 out, 3rd and held when left in well held 2nd blundered and lost momentum 2 out, lost 2nd approaching the last, weakened to 4th final 50 yards, 4th of 7, 9l behind Special Account (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Apr.
Midnight Request 2-1fav (11-4) Close up and keen, led 3 out, blundered when pressed 2 out, headed before last, kept on and lost 2nd place run-in, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Demographic (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 4f cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Oct.
