tracked leaders, led 2 out, clear before and hit last, eased towards finish
led, pushed along before 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, weakened before 2 out
in rear, headway before 2 out, ridden and kept on to take 3rd towards finish
tracked leaders, mistake 3 out, ridden to chase winner before last, kept on and no impression
in rear, reminder after 3rd, tailed off 4 out
held up mid-division, ridden and one pace from 2 out
with leader, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden and headway 2 out, went 3rd last until no extra towards finish
Hunters Belt returned to winning ways at Perth last month when King Brex was only fifth. But there must be a question mark over whether the visor will work a second time and he is 9lb higher now. We prefer RUPERT BEAR at the weights as he revelled in the soft ground at Hexham in May and will have similar underfoot conditions here. Leith Walk was only beaten a nose over 2m1f at Hexham in the spring but her best form is generally over further than this while C&D winner Weetfromthechaff appears out of sorts and Funky Munky is still 12lb higher than his last winning mark. Stanley Bridge is preferred to Endeavor of the others.
Hunters Belt (IRE) 4-1fav (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway 4th, challenged 3 out, led approaching next, ridden last, stayed on well flat, won at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Sep beating Rockazar (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Leith Walk (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 2nd, outpaced 2 out, kept on from last, went 2nd final 50 yards, 2nd of 6, ns behind Kykate (11-5) at Hexham 2m mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in May.
Weetfromthechaff 9-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders when not fluent 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 6th and beaten when blundered last, weakened flat, 9th of 12, 23l behind War Singer (11-12) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Rupert Bear 13-2 (10-5) Towards rear, headway before 5th, led before 2 out, soon clear, won at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in May beating Lord Luso (10-12) by 12l, 9 ran.
Stanley Bridge 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway after 4th, outpace 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 31l behind Jolly Roger (11-9) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Funky Munky 8-1 (9-11) In touch, pressed leader after 5th, led before next, headed 7th, lost place after 4 out, weakened next, 8th of 11, well behind Hawaii Klass (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Mar.
King Brex (DEN) 25-1 (10-6) Behind, struggling 4th, never near leaders, 5th of 11, 27l behind Hunters Belt (10-10) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Sep.
Cantrell (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, kept on and no impression, 4th of 8, 17l behind Long Distance (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 1f clm hdl (5) gs in Apr.
Endeavor 20-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, soon chased leading pair, lost place after next, 5th and held when hit last, 5th of 12, 10l behind War Singer (11-12) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
