held up behind, lost touch from 5th, virtually pulled up bend before 3 out, well tailed off when blundered last
chased winner throughout, ridden 3 out, not quicken from 2 out, hit last, no impression after
made all, blundered 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, in command when blundered last, driven out flat
Disappointingly just three runners line up for this beginners' chase in which Bureaucrat is taken to beat Nippy Des Mottes in what is little more than a match with the other runner Berkeley Court surely only running for third place prize-money. The selection has yet to jump a fence in public but trainer Philip Hobbs normally has his runners well schooled and, crucially, Bureaucrat receives the age allowance from Nippy Des Mottes, who has proven to be something of a disappointment in two starts over fences this term. The concession of 12lbs by the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding to the selection may prove to be too much.
Berkeley Court 14-1 (11-2) Prominent until weakened after 4 out, 10th of 11, well behind Song of Vala (11-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in May.
Nippy Des Mottes (FR) 5-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, effort 9th, mistake 11th, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 16l behind All Star (11-5) at Ascot 2m 1f beg chs (2) gs.
Bureaucrat 8-1 (10-13) Soon tracking leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 9th of 15, 24l behind Desert Quest (11-12) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl (2) gf in Oct.
