tracked leaders, jumped slowly 5th, close up in 4th when slipped badly and almost unseated rider on bend after 3 out, not recover, pulled up before next
led narrowly to 1st, with leader, led again 3rd, made rest, driven when hard pressed after 2 out, ridden and stayed on gamely flat, just held on, all out
held up in touch, tracked leaders 11th, outpaced in 3rd approaching 2 out, no chance with clear pair after, went left last
tracked leaders, outpaced when left in clear 4th on bend after 3 out, no chance with clear leaders before next
in touch, reminders and struggling after 12th, soon lost touch, tailed off
in touch, lost place 8th, soon behind, struggling 12th, tailed off
led 1st, blundered and headed 3rd, tracked winner, effort to challenge after 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and every chance flat, just held
Copper West only found one too good in a couple of chases at Southwell at the start of the summer but is still awaiting a first victory under Rules. Cloth Cap should make a chaser and won over hurdles here on Boxing Day last year. Cloone Lady was placed over hurdles here in April and has won between the flags while Heydour looks the type to make a better chaser than hurdler. Ri An Rian won a beginners’ chase at Tipperary in July but is having a first run for Laura Mongan. EARLSHILL surprisingly failed to win a race for Dan Skelton but he has flourished since switching to Stuart Edmunds, winning over hurdles twice in the spring. Successful in a Dromahane point in 2016, he looks a nice prospect.
Earlshill (IRE) 13-8 (11-5) Made all, ridden after 3 out, edged left before 2 out, stayed on well, won at Southwell 2m 4f (4) gd in May beating French Crusader (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Fixed Rate 25-1 (11-7) Pressed leader, led 4th, headed after next, led after 3 out, headed before next, soon weakened, 9th of 13, dist behind Midnight Maestro (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in May.
Cloth Cap (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Pressed leader, led 4th to 6th, tracked leader, every chance when fell 3 out, at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Copper West (IRE) 10-3 (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, led before next, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on flat, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Too Many Diamonds (11-6) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Cloone Lady (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Led until after 2nd, remained prominent, effort 2 out, soon outpaced bey winner, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 16, 9l behind Jet Set (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f (4) gd in Apr.
Ri An Rian (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Slight mistake 1st, reminders from 2nd, soon chased leaders, 4th from 7th, closed to be prominent approaching straight, on terms between last 2, gained narrow lead and stayed on best closing stages, won at Tipperary 2m 4f gd in Jul beating Statistical (11-12) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Heydour (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Mostly tracked leader, challenged 3 out, ridden to lead briefly before next, no chance with winner before last, just held for 2nd flat, 3rd of 8, 9 1/4l behind Push The Tempo (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (4) gs in Sep.
