chased leaders, closed 4th, went 2nd next, ridden after 2 out, every chance last, stayed on same pace flat
held up, took keen hold, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, outpaced and no impression 3 out, went modest 3rd before last
made all, jumped right, hit 4th, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well
tracked winner, hit 4th and reminder, ridden after next, weakened approaching 3 out
Nonrunner
Descaro never seems to run a bad race at this level and the drop back to 2m will suit. He has won over course and distance this season and will almost certainly be in the firing-line again. Mighty Whitey didn't find a great deal at the business end when third at Worcester last week while the once-useful Captain Brown appears to be going backwards, though is making his first appearance in a seller. PLATINUM won a 1m6f handicap on the Flat at Musselburgh in May so it's a bit of a surprise to see him dropped into this grade back over hurdles. He won over timber at Ludlow in 2011 and may be too good for these at the weights.
Descaro (USA) 5-4fav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway before 9th, led before 2 out, ridden and headed before last, soon outpaced, kept on run-in, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Sparkling Tara (11-2) at Hexham 3m sell (5) gd in Jun.
Captain Brown 7-2 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up in 4th, mistake 4th, outpaced 8th, 4th and struggling when fell next, in a race won by Toledo Gold (10-12) at Perth 2m nov chs (4) gf in Jun, 6 ran.
Gracchus (USA) 6-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, not fluent next, jumped right 8th, weakened after 2 out, 8th of 9, well behind Alwaystheoptimist (11-9) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Jun.
Mighty Whitey (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Led after 2nd, headed 4 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 9, 14l behind Belle De Fontenay (10-7) at Worcester 2m sell hdl (5) gd.
Tribal Dance (IRE) 22-1 (10-4) Tracked leader, pushed along before 4 out, soon challenged, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, 44l behind Big Sound (10-13) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jun.
Peintre Ster (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) In touch, hung right and weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 13, well behind Golden Games (10-8) at Plumpton 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.
Platinum (IRE) 6-4fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, headed before last, no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Deepsand (10-10) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Apr.