held up, steady progress 9th, ridden after 3 out, challenged 2 out, slight lead last, narrowly headed towards finish, led post
chased leaders until weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, led 6th, jumped right 11th, ridden and headed bypassing omitted 3 out, weakened before last
held up mid-division, behind from 5th, pushed along after 12th, soon struggling
held up in rear, pushed along and progress after 16th, hard ridden bypassing omitted 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up mid-division, mistake 13th, ridden and progress approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
led to 6th, chased leader, led bypassing omitted 3 out, ridden and narrowly headed last, slight lead towards finish, headed post
held up, behind from 12th
held up mid-division, headway 13th, weakened after 15th, behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up mid-division, pushed along and short-lived effort after 16th
behind until fell 10th
chased leaders, lost place after 12th, pushed along and rallied approaching 3 out, ridden before last, stayed on flat
held up towards rear, steady progress 12th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened 3 out
in rear, pushed along after 16th, hard ridden and stayed on bypassing omitted 3 out, never near leaders
This looks a strong renewal with several powerful yards fielding more than one runner. It’s interesting that Harry Skelton prefers Notwhatiam to Blairs Cove while David Pipe’s pair, You Say What and Van Gogh Du Granit, have solid claims. Regal Encore is probably the class act but among the most senior runners and has been hard to win with in recent years. Brave Eagle has only been beaten once so far over fences but has gone up 8lb for winning at Haydock. Monbeg Legend is the likely pace angle but will have stamina to prove. DRAGON D’ESTRUVAL was making his debut over the larger obstacles in this country when a place behind Van Gogh Du Granit at Perth. He’s better off at the weights today and fancied to turn the tables and he handled this quicker going well enough over hurdles. Theclockisticking is also worth a second look as he made an early mistake and never recovered here last month – he is better than that.
Brave Eagle (IRE) 9-2cfav (11-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 4 out, no impression until headway into 3rd before last, switched right after last, soon ridden and rallied, finished well to lead towards finish, won at Haydock 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in May beating Huntsman Son (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Monbeg Legend 11-4 (11-6) Led 2nd to 6th, close 2nd when fell 8th, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in May.
Van Gogh Du Granit (FR) 7-2 (11-11) Chased leader until 1st, in touch, jumped right 3rd, ridden and every chance flat, held close home, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Follow The Bear (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Red Giant (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, reminders after 12th, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Indian Temple (11-7) at Perth 3m hcp (2) gs in Jun.
Notwhatiam (IRE) 8-11fav (11-4) Led, 3 lengths clear last, soon ridden and edged left, headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Fidux (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f (4) gs in Jun.
Theclockisticking (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) Held up behind, blundered and rider lost iron briefly 11th, struggling 5 out, ridden and headway under pressure after 2 out, kept on flat, nearest finish, 6th of 13, 6 1/4l behind Cesar Et Rosalie (10-4) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) gd in May.
Killaro Boy (IRE) 7-4 (11-12) Pressed leader, clear of rest after 12th, led after 5 out, drew clear on bit after 3 out, in no danger after, unextended, won at Warwick 3m 1f (5) gd in May beating Marcle Ridge (12-2) by 9l, 6 ran.
Mahlermade (IRE) 11-8fav (11-6) Jumped right, led, driven and headed 2 out, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Sumkindofking (11-12) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in May.
Gentleman Jon 10-1 (11-4) Led, driven when hard pressed 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last where not fluent, no impression with front pair flat, 3rd of 4, 11 1/4l behind Allelu Alleluia (11-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in May.
Blairs Cove 4-5fav (11-8) Held up in last pair, not fluent 4th, bumped 10th, closer in 4th went 2nd between last 2, every chance last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Western Miller (11-8) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
You Say What (IRE) Evensfav (11-12) Led, not fluent 2nd, reminder after 14th, ridden after 2 out, headed soon after last, stayed on, 2nd of 4, nk behind Gardiners Hill (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in May.
Winter Lion (IRE) 100-1 (9-2) Held up, always behind, 9th of 12, 19 1/4l behind Sassie (9-1) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Soupy Soups (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd between last 2, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Irish Octave (10-3) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Henllan Harri (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Towards rear, behind 8th, closed from 11th, weakened last, 5th of 8, dist behind Al Co (10-11) at Cartmel 3m 5f hcp (3) gd in May.
Doing Fine (IRE) 13-8fav (11-10) Ran in snatches and not always fluent, in touch 4 out, 3rd last, soon beaten, weakened and lost 3rd before last bend, 4th of 8, 30 3/4l behind Al Co (10-11) at Cartmel 3m 5f hcp (3) gd in May.
Regal Encore (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Mid-division, mistake at 14th, headway from 6 out, went 3rd and mistake 4 out, improved to dispute lead travelling well before 2 out, mistake and headed 2 out, ridden and soon no impression on winner, kept on same pace in 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 17, 18l behind Cloudy Morning (9-10) at Punchestown 3m 7f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Dragon D'Estruval (FR) 12-1 (11-11) Held up in mid-division, headway tracking leaders going well approaching 13th, 3rd 4 out, ridden and every chance last, no extra in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Indian Temple (11-7) at Perth 3m hcp (2) gs in Jun.
