held up mid-division, headway 3 out, in 4th 2 out, ridden and no impression from last
tracked leader, ridden 2 out, weakened after last
held up towards rear, reminder after 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, never dangerous
held up in rear, not fluent 3 out, headway 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on to lead final 150 yards, kept on well
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, soon in rear, jumped right 4th, tailed off from next
held up in touch, stayed on from last, no impression
held up towards rear, never dangerous
led to 1st, tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
took keen hold, led from 1st, challenged and under pressure going to 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, hit last, soon weakened
tracked leaders, blundered 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, dropped into mid-division 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, joined leader and going well approaching 3 out, led 2 out, hit last, soon ridden, headed final 150 yards, kept on, no chance with winner
held up mid-division, headway after 2 out, ridden flat, kept on
held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 4th, weakened from 4 out
Nicky Richards has taken this race a couple of times with horses towards the top of the weights but Benmadigan looks a shade high and so, too, does Pyracantha but both have run well here in the past and can't be comfortably dismissed. Irish raider Quai Du Roi is respected but preference is for the recent course and distance winner MIDNITE BLEWS. He stayed on strongly on the long run-in to get on top close home and can overcome a 7lb rise in the weights if returning in the same form although his profile suggests that that is not a given. Grand Diamond and Long Distance were back in third and fifth that day and hold each-way claims again with Gwyre and Pillar Of Hercules amongst others to note.
Benmadigan (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, never dangerous, 6th of 9, 16l behind Word Of Warning (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gf in Jul.
Pyracantha 10-11fav (11-5) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, went 2nd approaching next, soon one pace, 2nd of 8, 16l behind Bucephalus (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Quai Du Roi (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, bad mistake 5 out, soon weakened, last of 15, 32l behind Ikansea (10-5) at Limerick 2m 2f hcp hdl 8Evens09 gd.
Grand Diamond (IRE) 17-2 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, left 2nd when blundered last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 9l behind Nearby (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Gwyre (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Chased winne 2nd until after 6th, lost 2nd after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up after last, in a race won by Pokanoket (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
Knock Three Times (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up behind, effort 3 out, weakened approaching last, 11th of 13, 18l behind Midnite Blews (9-11) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Waterloo Corner 14-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 5th, soon chasing leaders, led before 2nd last, hard ridden, all out, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar beating Catch Bob (11-4) by nk, 12 ran.
Border Tale 9-2 (11-8) Prominent, lost place after 3rd, soon behind, 5th of 8, 49l behind Ruby Crown (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Pillar of Hercules (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, one pace after last, weakened and lost 3rd place final 100 yards, 4th of 8, 28l behind Bob's Dream (11-6) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Heart of Dubai (USA) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd at 4th, led 3 out, ridden and headed going to last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 10l behind Jeu De Roseau (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Sep.
Morning Time (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, in 3rd and held when weakening and hit last, 5th of 8, 22l behind Ashammar (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Midnite Blews (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders and keen, led after 2nd, mistake next, ridden after last, kept on well flat, won at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd beating Sumak (11-3) by 2l, 13 ran.
Long Distance (FR) 22-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, blundered 2 out, ridden last, kept on flat, 5th of 13, 5l behind Midnite Blews (9-11) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Just Posh 22-1 (11-6) Mid-division, lost place 4th, soon behind, no danger after, 11th of 15, 30l behind Etoile d'Or (10-2) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
