towards rear, headway before 4 out, chased winner before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and held towards finish
prominent, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
made all, ridden before 2 out, held on well towards finish
held up towards rear, weakened before 3 out
tracked leader, outpaced before 3 out, kept on to take 3rd place run-in
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakening when mistake last
in rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon tailed off
RIO QUINTO followed up a very easy maiden victory over 2m4f at Fakenham by just failing to concede 13lb to the winner over an extended 2m7f on a return visit and should get back to winning ways. Victarion had shown promise in bumpers and though well beaten on his hurdling debut at Ludlow should do better with that under his belt. Drovers Lane, Louse Talk and Royal Tara are all winners between the flags and the latter also landed a hunter-chase at Tipperary in May so could prove best of the trio.
Rio Quinto (FR) 4-5fav (11-4) Led, ridden 2 out, driven when headed approaching last, rallied flat, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Piri Massini (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 7f (3) hvy in Jan.
Drovers Lane (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Raced keenly, tracked leader until inside final 3f, chased leaders, weakened inside final 2f, 8th of 11, 14 3/4l behind Morning Vicar (11-4) at Newbury 2m (5) sft in Jan.
Louse Talk (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Made all, 2l adv 2out, went clr frm last, kow, won at Tralee 3m mdn sft in May beating Moores Novelty (12-2) by 6l, 10 ran.
Royal Tara (IRE) 2-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, good jump up into 2nd at 1st, disputed from 2nd, headed after 4th, improved to challenge after 3 out, led after 2 out, eased clear run-in, not extended, won at Tipperary 2m 7f gd in May beating Dingle Gin (11-2) by 3 1/4l, 9 ran.
Sartene's Son (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 16, 30 3/4l behind Diablo De Rouhet (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Jan.
Victarion (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 15, dist behind Indian Hawk (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Zebi Boy 33-1 (11-4) Mid-division on inside, ridden and weakening in 6th 3 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Whiskey In The Jar (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (5) hvy in Jan.