raced wide, chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, led 14th, blundered badly veered left 4 out saddle slipped ran off the track and unseated rider
keen to get on with it, led until 14th, chased leaders, weakened and left poor 5th 3 out
in touch on inside, headway chasing leaders when left in 3rd place 3 out, plugged on
chased leader until 11th, chased leaders, 2nd again 14th, every chance when badly hampered and carried badly left 4 out, no chance after
held up in last pair, good headway approaching 4 out, chasing leaders when left in lead next, headed next, well held last, stayed on same pace
in touch, mistake 13th, headway and plugging on when left modest 4th 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 13th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
went left 1st, held up in rear, jumped slowly and reminder 12th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
bumped 1st, chased leaders, left in close 2nd place 3 out, led next, clear last, kept on well
A competitive affair in which Play The Ace, a prolific winner last season, makes plenty of appeal having proved his stamina over hurdles lately. Kilbree Kid and Swingbridge are course and distance winners but Richard Johnson prefers Rightdownthemiddle to the latter. Ballyboker Breeze and Double Ross both have form at a decent level but neither are getting any younger. Royal Village is race-fit but it could be worth chancing LOUGH DERG JEWEL as Donald McCain’s gelding won on his reappearance last year and still has plenty of scope over fences after just the four starts. Vaniteux has won a Grade 2 and Listed races over fences but has never raced over a trip this far.
Ballyboker Breeze (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 4th, blundered badly and lost place, not recover, behind when pulled up before next, at Perth 3m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Double Ross (IRE) 66-1 (10-6) In touch, left tracking leader 6th (bechers) to 14th, remained in touch, lost place and struggling 5 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last, at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Vaniteux (FR) 22-1 (10-13) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, weakened 10th, 13th of 17, 25 1/4l behind Drumcliff (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in May.
Play The Ace (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 2nd from 3rd until after 6th, 2nd again 7th, challenged 9th, led before 2 out, hard pressed, driven out, in command close home, won at Southwell 3m (4) gd in Sep beating Motueka (11-5) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Rightdownthemiddle (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, ridden after 11th, no impression, weakened 3 out, last of 7, 19 3/4l behind Hammersly Lake (11-12) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Royal Village (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, mistake 7th, headway when not fluent 10th, close up 2 out, 3rd and beaten last, 3rd of 10, 14 1/4l behind Monbeg Legend (11-12) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Lough Derg Jewel (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 11l behind Stellar Notion (12-6) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in May.
Kilbree Kid (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Led, headed after 3rd, led 10th until 11th, led after 3 out, not fluent last, headed flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Cooking Fat (11-5) at Perth 3m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Swingbridge (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Held up, headway before 5th, challenged 12th, mistake 4 out, lost place approaching 2 out, 6th of 7, 14l behind Mighty Leader (11-12) at Perth 3m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
