tracked leaders, jumped well, shaken up after 3 out, led 2 out, ridden out run-in, eased towards finish, comfortably
led, ridden before 2 out, headed 2 out, kept on one pace
held up in rear, mistake 7th, pushed along after 3 out, went third 2 out, not fluent last, kept on, no chance with winner
prominent, hit 2nd and 3rd, ridden before 2 out, gradually faded
held up in rear, bad mistake 4 out and dropped to last, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on run-in, never on terms
This could turn out to be an informative contest. Arvico Bleu won at Clonmel in June when trained by Henry De Bromhead but was earlier just edged out by GOLD DES BOIS at Ballinrobe. The latter ran a cracker on his first start for Iain Jardine at Kelso, finding only the useful Nuts Well too good. He’ll be7lb higher in the weights from next week and is the one to beat. Finisk River should win races over fences judged on his third at Worcester while Slanelough won at Ayr and Perth in the spring having previous struggled to get his head in front. If Not For Dylan and Fusain should also make their mark in time.
Arvico Bleu (IRE) 15-2 (10-3) Tracked leaders early, disputed lead from 3rd, led 5th, headed 7th, ridden entering straight, weakened, 7th of 11, 30l behind Capuccimix (10-7) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Slanelough (IRE) 10-11fav (11-13) Made all, led, upped tempo 3 out, 1-length lead at the last, kept on gamely when ridden out in the run-in, won at Perth 2m hcp (4) sft in May beating Better Getalong (11-10) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
Gold Des Bois (FR) 7-1 (10-0) Raced keenly tracking leaders on inside, went 2nd 8th until after 3 out, ridden and plugged on in 3rd run-in, went 2nd on line, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Nuts Well (11-9) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Finisk River 4-1 (10-13) Led, headed before not fluent 7th, outpaced 3 out, no impression on winner last, kept on to press for 2nd flat, 3rd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Jemima P (11-8) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
If Not For Dylan (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Chased leader until before 3 out, beaten before next, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 9, 12l behind It's Good To Laugh (10-10) at Perth 2m (4) gs in Sep.
Fusain (FR) 11-1 (12-0) Rear, not fluent 1st, not fluent and pushed along briefly 2nd, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th before 3 out, no impression in 4th from next, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 15l behind Embittered (12-0) at Killarney 2m 1f gd in Aug.
