held up in mid-division, not fluent and ridden 3 out, headway next, stayed on, unable to challenge
held up towards rear, closed 3 out, not clear run before 2 out, soon switched right, went 3rd and switched left last, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish, unable to challenge winner
led, not fluent 1st, headed next, led 5th, mistake and headed 5th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra
led 2nd until 4th, led 5th, not fluent and headed 3 out, no extra 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, not fluent 5th, no impression, well beaten when not fluent 2 out
chased leaders, led 2 out, bumped along flat, all out
playing up before tape went up and jinked right and unseated rider when it did
chased leaders, every chance 2 out, kept on flat, lost 2nd towards finish
Decent prize money has attracted a strong field with the weights headed by DINO VELVET, who has run a couple of cracking races in defeat lately in the Scottish Champion Hurdle and Swinton Hurdle and can profit from this slight drop in class. Mister Universum beat Mystic Sky in this last year and is 3lb lower so it would be no surprise to see him in the firing-line again. Peruvien Bleu just came up short at Ludlow 10 days ago and Magic Dancer has the ability to win a race like this. Leapaway rattled up a five-timer last summer but is probably high enough in the weights at present and Not Never still has a bit to prove in this grade. Competition faces a tough task returning from a break.
Dino Velvet (FR) 16-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on flat, not reach leaders, 6th of 17, 6 1/4l behind Le Patriote (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp (1) gd in May.
Leapaway (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up off the pace in last trio, headway approaching 2 out, went 3rd run-in, kept on pressing for 2nd, no chance with very easy winner, 3rd of 9, 9 1/4l behind Fiesole (10-5) at Plumpton 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Not Never 3-1fav (11-12) Keen tracking leaders on inside, went 2nd before 2 out, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead edging left before slight mistake last, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Wind Place And Sho (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Magic Dancer 5-1 (11-2) Led until after 2nd, prominent, driven after 2 out, led and carried left flat, headed towards finish, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Uno Mas (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Competition 1-2fav (11-8) Took keen hold in mid-division, jumped right at times, closed 5th, ridden and close 3rd when awkward last, no impression on winner flat, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Noah And The Ark (10-12) at Stratford 2m (3) gd in Sep.
Mystic Sky 25-1 (10-11) Always in rear, never on terms, 7th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Fiesole (10-5) at Plumpton 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Peruvien Bleu (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, led before 3 out, strongly challenged last, headed closing stages, kept on, 2nd of 8, hd behind Red Hot Chilly (11-6) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gd in May.
Mister Universum (GER) 16-1 (10-5) Held up off the pace in 5th, outpaced 3 out, no danger after, 6th of 9, 12l behind Fiesole (10-5) at Plumpton 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
