mid-division, headway 4th, lost place next, no impression after
held up in rear, well beaten after 3 out, tailed off
held up, well beaten after 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake 1st and 2nd, headway 5th, no extra before last
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, led 2 out, strongly pressed after, headed close home
led, not fluent 5th, headed after 3 out, stayed on, no impression on leaders flat
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, no extra last
mid-division, well beaten after 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd close home, no impression on front pair
tracked leader until before 4th, lost place 3 out
prominent, went 2nd before 4th, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed challenging, led again close home
tracked leaders, mistake 2 out, no extra flat
mid-division on outside, closed 4th, lost place before 2 out
towards rear, hit 1st, not much room after 3rd, mistake 3 out, no impression
mid-division, not much room after 3rd, effort when mistake 3 out, stayed on, no extra close home
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, ridden and lost place after 3 out
held up in rear, mistake 3 out, headway on inside when not clear run before 2 out, never involved
John Ferguson won this lucrative prize a year ago with Purple Bay and Buckwheat provides him with a real prospect of repeating the process after scoring at Aintree though a 13lb rise tempers enthusiasm. The stable is also represented by Commissioned, who looks to have an even better chance after a facile success in a class 2 handicap at Carlisle for which he's been raised 12lb. HURRICANE HOLLOW looks to have been saved for this after an impressive victory at Cheltenham in April. He's only a five-year-old and looks the type to be better than a 136-rated hurdler in time and is given the nod. Regulation looked very progressive when winning easily at Uttoxeter while Manhattan Swing could reward each-way support as he won here in September and has been performing with credit on the Flat recently.
Commissioned (IRE) 7-2fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led before last, soon clear, easily, won at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jun beating Roman Flight (11-3) by 18l, 11 ran.
Court Minstrel (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, weakened 2 out, 9th of 11, dist behind Commissioned (11-0) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Roman Flight (IRE) 4-1fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden after last, kept on to chase winner run-in, well held, 2nd of 11, 18l behind Commissioned (11-0) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Buckwheat 9-4fav (11-10) Held up in last pair, not fluent 4 out, headway next, went 2nd 2 out, led going well before last, clear flat, eased close home, won at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gd in Jun beating Sleep In First (10-8) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Hammersly Lake (FR) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders and took keen hold, 4th 3 out, ridden from next, no impression, 6th of 22, 11 3/4l behind Sort It Out (10-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp sft in May.
Laudatory 10-1 (11-9) Prominent, chased clear pair after 4th, lost place 6th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Hurricane Hollow 5-1fav (11-3) Patiently ridden, held up in rear, headway after 2 out, chased leaders before last, ridden flat, stayed on to lead final 75 yards, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Minellaforleisure (10-12) by 3l, 9 ran.
Surf And Turf (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up tracking leading trio, closer order 8th, 3rd soon after, switched right approaching 3 out, strongly pressed from next, kept on gamely under pressure run-in, held on, won at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gf in Jun beating Miss Tenacious (10-8) by hd, 7 ran.
Manhattan Swing (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and hung left over 1f out, stayed on, never on terms, 5th of 15, 7l behind Wadi Al Hattawi (10-0) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Kie (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Led to 5th, remained close up, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 8, 37 1/2l behind Ifandbutwhynot (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Gran Maestro (USA) 5-2fav (9-6) With leader, led 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on and towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Hallstatt (9-1) at Wetherby 2m hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Regulation (IRE) 5-6fav (11-5) Tracked leaders until before 2nd, held up, headway when not much room 3 out, went 2nd next, led before last, cruised clear, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m (4) gf in Jul beating Lilac Tree (10-12) by 8l, 8 ran.
Purple 'n Gold (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, hampered 2 out, plugged on before last, went 4th flat, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 11 3/4l behind Good of Luck (11-6) at Stratford 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Collodi (GER) 2-1fav (10-9) Not fluent, took keen hold, held up, ridden and no impression before 2 out, last of 7, 19 1/4l behind Dubai Prince (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Gioia Di Vita 11-8fav (11-5) Tracked leader, not fluent 5th, challenged 2 out, led approaching last, driven clear run-in, won at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Jul beating Cochinillo (10-12) by 7l, 8 ran.
Restraint of Trade (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Made all, took keen hold, soon clear, ridden run-in, kept on well, won at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jun beating Baraboy (11-4) by 10l, 7 ran.
Silver Duke (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Behind, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 8th of 11, 8 3/4l behind Argaki (9-2) at Ayr 1m hcp (5) gd in Jul.
