took keen hold, chased leaders, weakened and lost touch 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 10th
led until before 4th, chased winner, hit 8th, lost 2nd and weakened rapidly and pulled up before 3 out
never travelling in rear, behind and struggling 4th, tailed off and pulled up before 7th
held up, mistake and ridden 9th, headway chasing leaders 3 out, 2nd before next, no chance with winner when wandered under pressure between last 2, lost 2nd close home
held up, steady headway on outside 7th, 3rd after 3 out, went left next, kept on into 2nd close home, no chance with winner
raced very wide, chased leaders, disputing 2nd 3 out, weakening when bumped after 3 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, weakening when bumped after 3 out
chased leader, led before 4th, clear 3 out, kept on strongly
Man In Black, a winning pointer, was only beaten a neck on his second start over fences at Carlisle but was raised 5lb for that. BUCKONTUPENCE was also successful between the flags so may leave his hurdles form behind now switched to the larger obstacles and he’s preferred to Fine Jewellery, who only beat one home when favourite on his chasing bow and first run for Jamie Snowden at Taunton and is a couple of pounds out of the handicap here. Edward Elgar never threatened on his fencing debut here earlier in the month and, though this looks easier, he only won sellers over hurdles and on the Flat.
Book Of Excuses (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Prominent, led 8th, headed before next, led 11th until 12th, led again before 2 out, headed after last, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Etania (10-4) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
Rakaia Rosa (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Tracked winner, blundered 2nd, lost place 10th, no chance with front pair from 12th, 3rd of 4, dist behind Bagad Bihoue (11-4) at Warwick 2m 4f (4) gd in May.
Buckontupence (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, tailed off, at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in May.
Edward Elgar 40-1 (11-2) Towards rear, weakened before 4 out, 4th of 6, dist behind Midnight Shot (11-2) at Towcester 2m 6f (4) gf in May.
Dontminddboys (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) In rear, slow 5th, headway when hampered 14th, 3rd and struggling from 17th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Sound The Bugle 40-1 (11-8) Slowly away, soon in touch on outside, mistake and lost place 3rd, struggling in last pair after 5th, pulled up before 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gs in Apr.
Man In Black (FR) 9-2 (10-2) Chased leaders, every chance 3 out, pressed winner from last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Allez Cool (11-9) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Fine Jewellery 2-1fav (10-0) Held up in rear and not fluent early, headway before and blundered 9th ridden before 3 out, one pace, lost 3rd place close home, 4th of 5, 7 3/4l behind Jaunty Inflight (11-8) at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (4) gf in Apr.
