close up on outer, mistake 1st, led 2nd, headed next, chased clear leader after 3rd, pushed along and weakened 3 out
handy behind clear leaders, weakened 4 out and tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
chased clear leaders, closed up after 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed narrowly run-in, stayed on, held towards finish
towards rear, struggling after 4 out, tailed off
prominent behind clear leaders, closed up after 4 out, led narrowly 3 out, not fluent and headed 2 out, ran on one pace
mid-division, raced keenly, prominent 2nd, led 3rd and soon well clear, reduced lead before 3 out, headed 3 out, soon dropped away
in rear, headway home turn. went 5th 3 out, hit 2 out and ridden, beaten when not fluent last
mid-division, headway home turn, pushed along and went 3rd 3 out, ridden and pressed leader final flight, led narrowly run-in, kept on well, always doing enough
rear mid-division, pushed along home turn, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and plugged on same pace from 2 out
led, headed 2nd, remained prominent behind clear leaders, lost ground before 6th and soon tailed off
Rare Clouds is a regular here but just 1-18 over hurdles with that sole victory coming at Southwell. Gavin was in great form at the start of the summer and is starting to slip down the weights again while Steal My Sunshine came good at Uttoxeter in May. A winner over course and distance in June, BEST MATE DAVE (NAP) found only the in-form Classic Concorde too good over further on a return visit. He could have done without a further 4lb rise but is still unexposed in handicaps. Bertie B still has time on his side and so does the four-year-old Elogio along with last month’s maiden winner Gieves.
Dave And Bernie (IRE) 11-2 (11-13) Led until 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, lost 2 places flat, 5th of 7, 22l behind Breaking Waves (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Bertie B 10-1 (12-2) Soon chasing leaders out wide, every chance last, ridden and stayed on same pace in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Blue Shark (12-0) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Feb.
Elogio (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Chsed leader, dropped to midfield 3rd, not fluent 4th and 5th, briefly niggled along 6th, driven before 3 out, chased leader before 2 out, 2 lengths down last, stayed on run-in, nearest finish, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Ve Day (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (4) gs in Mar.
Highlander Casseul (FR) 25-1 (11-3) Towards rear, hampered after 7th, well beaten before 3 out, 4th of 10, 30 1/2l behind Sambezi (11-3) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Rare Clouds 15-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway before 6th, challenged after 4 out until 3 out, rallied last, every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Democritus (11-6) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Gavin 6-1 (11-8) In rear, pushed along off pace home turn, stayed on strongly from last in distant 2nd, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Max Of Stars (10-8) at Stratford 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Gieves (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up and behind, headway 6th, went 2nd 3 out, led after 2 out, hung right after last, soon clear, easily, won at Worcester 2m mdn (4) gd in Sep beating Go On Ya Goodthing (11-2) by 19l, 7 ran.
Steal My Sunshine 7-1 (11-3) In touch in mid-division, not fluent and reminder 4th, effort 7th, went 2nd 2 out, led last, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in May beating Lighthouse Mill (10-11) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Best Mate Dave 9-2 (10-13) Held up in rear, jumped left 3rd, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, hard ridden flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind Classic Concorde (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Versatility 33-1 (11-7) Reminders and struggling before 11th, always towards rear, tailed off, 8th of 14, dist behind Doyens De Ante (10-2) at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp (5) gs in Apr.
