in rear, headway before 12th, in 5th before last
mid-division, tracked leaders 2nd, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, in 3rd when mistake and unseated rider 4th
mid-division, headway before 12th, in 3rd from last, kept on to lead towards finish
tracked leader and keen, led 4 out, headed run-in, no extra
towards rear, pushed along before and blundered 9th, headway before last, kept on same pace
towards rear, pushed along 10th, soon tailed off, pulled up before last
in touch, weakened after 2 out
tracked leader, led run-in, kept on and headed towards finish
led to 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up before last
always towards rear
Dual points winner Towerburn may do better back over fences and on a quicker surface. Royal Mandate is likely to improve on his third at Kelso but, in another modest contest, all eyes are likely to be on BENNACHIE. On a hat-trick after victories at Plumpton and Taunton, he’s travelled a long way for this and is the one to beat. Alfiboy came up against Buveur D’Air and Gino Trail on his chasing bow in 2016 and was pulled up but was lightly-raced over hurdles so should be capable of better. Next Level and Eager To Know may be best of the rest.
Alfiboy 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, jumped badly left 1st, went 2nd after 3 out, mistake next, weakened last, 7th of 14, 9 3/4l behind Rockliffe (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Next Level (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Always in rear, not fluent 6th, 10th of 15, dist behind Occasionally Yours (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Bennachie (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Held up, headway after 4 out, challenged 3 out, hung right from after 2 out, led last, ridden out, won at Taunton 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Apr beating Bally Lagan (11-10) by 1l, 10 ran.
Bafana Blue 16-1 (11-8) Behind, pushed along after 7th, plugged on from 2 out, never nearer, 8th of 19, 16 3/4l behind Final Reminder (11-4) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in May.
Royal Mandate (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th until next, well beaten 3rd from 2 out, mistake last, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Free Range (11-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in May.
Eager To Know (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Behind, mistake 13th, struggling 4 out, never a threat, 7th of 9, 21 1/2l behind Apache Pilot (10-2) at Hexham 3m hcp (4) gd in May.
Towerburn (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, driven before 2 out, kept on same pace, well held in 4th before last, 4th of 8, 10 1/4l behind Make It Happen (10-12) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Apr.
Scorpo (IRE) 80-1 (10-10) Close up, led 5 out, headed before 3 out, weakened before last, 9th of 11, 30 3/4l behind Midnight Mustang (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in May.
Court Painter (IRE) 13-2 (10-3) Tracked winner until before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 7, 18 3/4l behind Boy's On Tour (11-12) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in May.
Daydream Island (IRE) 22-1 (10-0) Led to 5th, led 7th, headed 14th, soon lost place, 9th of 12, dist behind Havana Jack (11-5) at Perth 3m hcp (5) gd in May.
Thedfactor (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Mid-division, slow 4th, hampered and towards rear 7th, well behind 14th, pulled up before next, at Hexham 3m hcp (5) sft in Apr.
