chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out and no impression, plugged on one pace
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, led home turn and steadily went clear, ridden after 2 out, in command last and coasted home
close up, led after 1st, headed home turn, ridden after 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner
led, tracked leader after 1st, not jump well, mistake 3rd and soon lost touch, pulled up 3 out
in rear, pushed along after 4 out and struggling, tailed off
Cirque Royal was far from disgraced in a Class 2 handicap at Market Rasen after wins here and at Kelso but is giving 5lb, less his rider’s claim, to the progressive THE FRIDAY MAN (NAP), who was third in a very competitive novice hurdle at the Galway Festival after wins in a Tramore bumper and a Bellewstown maiden hurdle. Flat winner Estepona Sun is 0-13 over timber while Gold Cup Bailly hasn’t raced since placed again in a Carlisle maiden last December, though is still preferred to stablemate Masrur.
Cirque Royal 5-2fav (11-1) Chased leader, not fluent 3 out, going well approaching 2 out, soon outpaced and weakened last, 5th of 11, 4l behind Pisgah Pike (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
The Friday Man 17-2 (11-4) Towards rear, 5th after 6th, improved to 4th after 4 out, progress before 2 out, no impression in 3rd before last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Salvador Ziggy (11-7) at Galway 2m 5f gd in Jul.
Estepona Sun 6-1 (11-12) Waited with in rear of mid-division, 9th halfway, headway after 3 out, went 3rd after next, ridden and no impression in 3rd at last, kept on one pace, no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 14, 4 3/4l behind Quel Reve (11-5) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn gd in Aug.
Giamas 250-1 (11-4) Always in rear, soon pulled up, at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Jun.
Keep Coming (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Midfield, pushed and headway out wide turning for home, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 13, 7l behind Hemlock (10-9) at Perth 2m (4) gd in Jun.
Gold Cup Bailly (FR) 4-11fav (11-4) Led, jumped left 3rd, pressed before 2 out, not fluent 2 out, soon pushed along, narrowly headed last, ridden and weakened quickly run-in, 3rd of 5, 18l behind The Real Whacker (11-4) at Carlisle 3m 1f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Masrur (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Prominent, tracked leaders after 2nd, mistake 4th, 4th halfway, slight mistake 6th and soon lost place, ridden and weakened after 4 out, completely tailed off, last of 14, dist behind Rioga Choice (10-11) at Roscommon 2m mdn sft in Aug.
