pressed leader, led over 4f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
tracked leaders, led going well over 2f out, in command when swerved badly left inside final furlong, ran on
set modest pace, headed over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 5f out, every chance 2f out, wandered over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
held up, took keen hold, headway over 3f out, hung left 2f out and again inside final furlong, stayed on
A small field and few with obvious chances in this closing bumper, where we'll take LAURELDEAN RIVER to defy a penalty ahead of Basford Bob and newcomer Spot The Ball. Steve Gollings' former point-to-point winner stayed on well to make the perfect start under rules when winning over course and distance almost a fortnight ago and whilst it can be hard for horses to follow up under a penalty in these contests we at least know that the horse is in form and likes the ground and a 7lb penalty may not stop the follow-up success. The gelding drew five lengths clear of a relatively promising rival that day with the rest of the field well strung out despite showing signs of greenness and should he improve at all we fancy another win may well be on the cards. Basford Bob rates the obvious danger having taken a close up second over course-and-distance back in the spring. That effort was on much livelier ground and the gelding does have an absence of over six months to overcome but had he not jinked badly during the closing stages last time the four-year-old would have surely won and Jennie Candish's inmate has the ability to take a race of this nature at some point, though perhaps on ground quicker than todays. Spot The Ball is a newcomer for the powerful Jonjo O'Neill yard and as such merits respect in a race where very few can be fancied. The gelding is bred to make a staying jumper and so this two-mile contest may be a little on the sharp side but if the market makes the right noises about this son of Oscar it may well pay to listen as connections are more than capable of having one ready to win first time out. Of the other three perhaps newcomer Milo Milan can prove best given the moderate form showed by both Money Finder and Wordy's Boy. The son of Milan should act on the ground and again the market may tell us more about his chances. Not the most inspiring of closing contests then but we'll take the winning experience of Laureldean River to prove crucial.
Laureldean River (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Always prominent, led 3f out, edged right from over 2f out, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) hvy beating Gortenbuie (11-0) by 5l, 7 ran.
Basford Bob (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Held up in rear, smooth headway over 4f out, led over 1f out, soon edged left, 3 lengths clear when jinked left inside final furlong, soon headed, ran on, 2nd of 12, nk behind Flexi Time (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gf in Apr.
Milo Milan (IRE) Milan gelding out of Simply Divine.
Spot The Ball (IRE) Oscar gelding out of Sudden Inspiration.
Wordy's Boy 66-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, 10th of 11, well behind Aiteen Thirtythree (11-2) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Money Finder 40-1 (10-10) Towards rear, pushed along halfway, never dangerous, 9th of 15, 32l behind Call At Midnight (10-10) at Bangor 2m 1f N H flat (5) gd in Oct.
