chased leaders, effort 2 out, weakened before last
keen in rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, challenging in 3rd when fell last
tracked leader, every chance 2 out, not fluent last, no extra closing stages
chased leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, left in 3rd at last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, driven 4 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, lost place 2nd, soon towards rear, mistake 5th, driven before next, soon weakened, tailed off 4 out, pulled up after next
made all, strongly challenged 2 out, ran on well
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, weakening when short of approaching 2 out, behind when hampered and unseated rider just after last
held up, switched right and headway approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, stayed on into 3rd after last, never reached leaders
SOLO SAXOPHONE was a more-than-useful juvenile hurdler last season. He won his first two starts and was sixth in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in March when making his handicap debut. He’s been dropped 4lb since and has had wind surgery over the summer. Show On The Road won twice on heavy going at Exeter last term and should stay this longer trip so looks a danger. Black Mischief won over a similar trip at Kempton in April and will be helped by Aine O’Connor’s claim while North Hill shouldn’t be long in picking up the winning thread again and is preferred to the returning Jersey Bean and Dentley De Mee at the weights.
Card Game (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, keen, hit 4th, lost place after 3 out, last of 5, dist behind High Secret (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Black Mischief 7-4fav (11-4) Keen, held up in 5th, closer at 6th, led approaching 2 out, good jump to assert last, edged left and kept on well run-in, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Royal Irish Hussar (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Dentley De Mee (FR) 13-8 (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 7th, pushed along and readily outpaced after 3 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 18l behind Blu Cavalier (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) hvy in Apr.
Show On The Road 13-2jfav (11-2) Last pair, headway on inside approaching 2 out, ridden and no impression between last 2, 8th of 20, 10 1/2l behind Ballymoy (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Solo Saxophone (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, mid-division 3 out, 7th last, kept on, never on terms, 6th of 22, 11 1/2l behind Veneer Of Charm (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Just Milly (IRE) 10-1 (11-13) Tracked leader, led before 4 out, headed on bend before 2 out, no extra, 5th of 8, 25 3/4l behind Canton Prince (12-0) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Jersey Bean (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Chased leading pair, mistake 3rd, pushed along and went 2nd after 2 out, 1 lengths down last, challenged edged right and led run-in, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb beating Niblawi (10-12) by 3 3/4l, 12 ran.
Sweet Holly 6-1 (10-10) Held up, hampered 1st, well in touch 6th, ridden and no impression on winner after 2 out, went 2nd from last, 2nd of 6, 26l behind Card Game (11-3) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
North Hill (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders before 2 out, 4th and well held when mistake last, 4th of 15, 8 1/4l behind Rolling Maul (10-13) at Perth 3m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
