tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, ran on well flat
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, well beaten when not fluent 3 out
mid-division, headway on inside 7th, hit 3 out, weakened 2 out, mistake last
led, not fluent 5th, mistake 7th, headed approaching 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, every chance approaching 2 out, no extra flat
tracked leaders on outside, lost place approaching 6th, hit 7th, behind when mistake 3 out
held up in rear, some headway 7th, soon pushed along, well beaten 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, mistake last, stayed on to take 3rd post
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, mistake when beaten 3 out, mistake 2 out
in touch, mistakes, lost place 7th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
Victor Leudorum has won his last two starts at Market Rasen and Wincanton but will have to concede upwards of 14lb to his rivals here if he is to complete the hat-trick. We prefer KING EDMUND, a 143-rated chaser who has shown enough over hurdles to suggest he can land this under McCoy. He found only the progressive Princely Player too good at Exeter last time. Midnight Appeal hasn't raced over timber since 2010 and has plenty to find with the selection on chase form while Scourie Bay and Almadan may need more time.
Victor Leudorum (IRE) 15-8 (11-5) Led until after 2nd, prominent, led after 3 out, ridden and edged left after 2 out, asserted flat, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Polisky (11-5) by 5l, 8 ran.
Farmer Matt (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Held up on outside, jumped right 3rd, behind 7th, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Same Difference (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Fearless Leader 50-1 (10-13) Mid-division, staying on same pace and beaten when went right 4 out, 7th of 15, 34l behind Top Wood (10-13) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
King Edmund 7-2 (10-9) Led, ridden before 3 out, headed before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Princely Player (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft.
Midnight Appeal 10-1 (11-2) Towards rear, outpaced 4 out, ridden next, never on terms, well beaten when fell last, in a race won by Sunnyhillboy (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Amateur Handicap Chase (0-145) (5yo+) (2) gd in Mar, 23 ran.
Scourie Bay 50-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden and no headway before 3 out, hit last, stayed on flat, nearest finish, 4th of 10, 13l behind Balding Banker (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Uncle Johnny 14-1 (10-10) Towards rear, hampered 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went modest 4th close home, 4th of 15, 31l behind Top Wood (10-13) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Viking Ridge (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened well over 1f out, 8th of 12, 28l behind Aeschylus (11-3) at Towcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Almadan (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway approaching 7th, left 3rd last, never near to challenge, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Balding Banker (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Magic In Motion 3-1fav (10-5) Tracked leaders, weakened over 5f out, 7th of 11, well behind Caught In The Act (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) gf in Jul.
