jumped right throughout, chased leader until hit 5th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden to chase leading pair approaching 2 out, kept on to go 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
hampered 1st, hit 2nd, chased leaders until 5th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd at the 5th, hit 3 out, lead approaching next, soon clear, easily
mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
held up, hit 2nd, headway after 5th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out
behind from 4th, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, weakening when mistake 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
lead, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
Chess Board was much the best of these on the flat and made an encouraging enough start to his new career before unseating Richard Johnson two out at Newton Abbot so is taken to gain compensation here and score at the main expense of Mambo Sun and Rahy's Crown. The last mentioned was a dual middle distance handicap winner on the level and hails from the yard of Gray Moore that does well with their runners here. German import Brilliant may want a softer surface and is probably best watched on his British debut, while Irish Whispers showed regressive form on the flat and it remains to be seen whether the switch to hurdles brings about any improvement. Left Hand Drive has more to do than when scoring at Newton Abbot last time and of more interest may be Paul Blockley's Mambo Sun, who looks to be going the right way. Chess Board could be different class to these though and he is preferred.
Left Hand Drive 16-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, led 2 out, hard ridden and not fluent last, ran on, won at N Abbot 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Aug beating Archimboldo (10-0) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Mambo Sun Evensfav (10-12) Mid-division, closer order 3rd, led after 3 out, clear 2 out, hit last, kept on, won at N Abbot 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gs in Aug beating Prime Bere (10-5) by 27l, 8 ran.
Brilliant (GER) (9-0) Last of 8, 18l behind Dickens (9-0) at Cologne 1m 3f 3yo stk sft in May (Flat).
Chess Board 11-8fav (10-10) Jumped left 1st, with leaders, led after 3 out, veered badly left approaching 2 out and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Psycho Cat (10-10) at N Abbot 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Aug, 10 ran.
Irish Whispers (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, every chance over 1f out, kept on, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Wings of Dawn (8-6) at Bath 1m 5f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Aug (Flat).
Rahy's Crown (USA) 15-8fav (7-12) In touch, pushed along and no impression halfway, weakened over 3f out, eased when beaten final furlong, 9th of 11, 18l behind Ariodante (8-6) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) frm in Aug (Flat).
Tenini (9-0) Behind Leonardo's Friend (9-2) at Munich 1m 2f stk in Jun, 10 ran (Flat).
Prime Bere (FR) 9-4 (10-5) Mid-division, progress to track leaders after 3rd, ridden 3 out, weakening when left 2nd 2 out, 2nd of 8, 27l behind Mambo Sun (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gs in Aug.
