held up well off the pace in mid-division, headway 5th, chased leaders next, led approaching omitted 2 out, soon clear, very easily (4 fences omitted)
tracked leaders, lost place after 2nd, in rear when pulled up before 4th
chased leader, driven 5th, soon under pressure, weakened after next
held up, headway 7th, no impression
behind, slow 3rd, headway approaching omitted 2 out, stayed on into modest 3rd, never nearer
soon led, clear after 2nd, mistake 8th, headed before omitted 2 out, soon lost place
held up in rear, headway before omitted 2 out, stayed on into 2nd, no chance with easy winner
MIDDLEBROW will be sharper for last month’s outing and gets a change of headgear today. He won last year’s renewal off a 4lb lower mark but Donald McCain’s charge is taken to confirm running with both Vengeur De Guye and Chain Of Beacons. The latter re-opposes on better terms this time having slid down the weights but Treshnish is back on a winning mark and may improve on his second start after wind surgery. Las Tunas returns to action 5lb higher than when landing a double at Wetherby earlier in the year and may prove best of the rest.
Vengeur De Guye (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Held up behind, blundered badly 7th, outpaced 3 out, never a threat, 6th of 9, 21 1/2l behind Dicosimo (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Sword Of Fate (IRE) 20-1 (12-7) Led, soon clear with one other, headed 3 out, weakening when fell last, at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in May.
Treshnish (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Towards rear, well behind from 8th, 5th of 9, 36 1/2l behind Ballyvic Boru (10-13) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Middlebrow (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up on inside, struggling 4 out, never involved, 4th of 6, 10 1/2l behind Royal Plaza (11-4) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) sft in Sep.
Effet Special (FR) 28-1 (11-2) Led, headed 2nd, tracked winner to after 5 out, lost place 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Theflyingportrait (11-12) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Las Tunas (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led 5th, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 35 1/4l behind Oromo (10-11) at Perth 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Chain Of Beacons 25-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders after next, weakened last, 7th of 8, 24 1/4l behind Budarri (11-1) at Carlisle 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
