led and set steady pace, not fluent 11th, headed 14th, chased winner, led again before 4 out until 4 out, blundered 3 out, lost 2nd before next, left in poor 2nd 2 out
chased leading pair, not fluent 6th, hit 10th, closed 13th, went 2nd before fell 2 out
held up last, mistake 10th, headway 13th, outpaced before 4 out, no chance when fell 2 out
pressed leader, fiddled 8th, led 14th until before 4 out, led again 4 out, travelling well when left clear 2 out, heavily eased flat
This looks a bit easier than Fuse Wire's last two runs but he remains a maiden. Rusty Nail's latest second at Newton Abbot suggests he's in the handicapper's grip now but Ballyvoneen is starting to come down the weights again and stayed on late at Chepstow on Saturday. NO THROUGH ROAD's win at Worcester last week was his first in 19 attempts but it was achieved with a degree of comfort which suggests he should be able to defy his penalty, which is partly wiped out by Robert Hawker's claim.
Ballyvoneen (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) In touch in 4th, went 4th 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Tuskar Rock (10-11) at Chepstow 3m am hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft.
Fuse Wire 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leader and mistakes, led 17th, blundered 4 out, soon headed and weakened, 4th of 7, 22l behind I'm In Charge (10-5) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Rusty Nail (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Chased leaders, hit 9th, mistake 15th, went 2nd 4 out, 6 lengths down when mistake 3 out, well held by winner after, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Hinton Indiana (10-11) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Aug.
No Through Road 5-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th until 9th, went 2nd again 13th, led next, ridden and stayed on well to draw clear flat, comfortably, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp 0-100 (5) gs beating One For The Boss (10-10) by 5l, 7 ran.
