tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, led after 2 out, hung left and headed flat, no extra
prominent, jumped slowly and ridden from 5th, weakened approaching last
prominent, led after 3 out until after 2 out, weakened last
held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before next
held up, headway 3rd, jumped slowly and lost place 5th, weakened after next, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, led flat, stayed on
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out, pulled up before last
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, close enough when not clear run on bend before hitting 3 out, soon weakened
held up, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Lively Fling got off the mark in a slightly weaker contest at Warwick two weeks ago. That will have boosted his confidence and he should be in the firing-line again here along with Blenheim Brook, who lost nothing in defeat when trying to give 5lb to Cunning Clarets at Ayr at the start of the month. RUSHWEE may well have won at Leicester on his reappearance had he stayed on his feet but made no mistake at Wetherby four days later. He's been put up 8lb for that win but appears much improved this season and can double up in this. Eastwell Smiles has got his act together over the last nine months but has switched stables since completing his hat-trick at Fontwell earlier this month and may be in the handicapper's grip again now.
Blenheim Brook (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked clear leader, ridden and slightly outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Cunning Clarets (11-7) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Lively Fling (USA) 3-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, ridden before next, 1 lenght down when slightly hampered and left clear last, won at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy beating Mayolynn (10-11) by 16l, 9 ran.
Colour Clash 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, hit 4th, headway after 4 out, soon weakened, 11th of 17, 24l behind The Magic Bishop (10-4) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Rushwee (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) Held up in touch in 4th, headway to chase leader before 3 out, led next, soon push clear, ran on strongly, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft beating Last Of The Bunch (11-9) by 5l, 5 ran.
Jimbatai (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake 8th, chased leaders when hit 10th, ridden and outpaced in 5th when fell next, in a race won by Polyfast (11-12) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs, 10 ran.
Pegasus Prince (USA) 6-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, hit 5th, outpaced from 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 8th of 14, 34l behind Moon Indigo (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Eastwell Smiles 8-11fav (12-1) Made all, clear and in no danger 3 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy beating Autumm Spirit (10-10) by 49l, 5 ran.
My Viking Bay (IRE) 15-2 (10-3) Held up in rear, hampered 3rd, headway approaching 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon well held, remote 3rd briefly when mistake last, 4th of 15, 28l behind Malindi Bay (11-2) at Towcester 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Royal And Ancient (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders on inside when fell 4th, in a race won by Ultravox (10-5) at Towcester 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft, 8 ran.