chased leader, ridden along to challenge before 2 out, no chance with winner approaching final flight, no extra flat
held up in touch, never a factor
prominent on inner, slow jump 3rd, not fluent 5th, ridden and weakened from 3 out
held up in last, shaken up after 3 out, went modest third after 2 out, always behind
NonRunner
Cheltenam De Vaige is a thorough stayer but has a modest strike-rate and others have more scope. Butch was an improver when last seen in the spring and the step up to 3m should suit while Destroytheevidence stayed on far too strongly for the odds-on Huelgoat over 2m27f at Worcester. Kayce Dutton won a Cork maiden in July but has changed stables since. TZARMIX ran well at Ludlow back in January and then beat the long odds-on L’Astroboy, rated 136, at Chepstow. He tries a new trip here after a break and a switch of stables but has plenty of untapped potential.
Butch 2-1fav (12-0) Chased leader, led narrowly before 3 out, headed 2 out, chased winner, kept on as winner idled run-in, always held, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind City Derby (10-8) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Destroytheevidence 5-1 (11-4) Close 3rd on inside, switched out before 2 out, went 2nd approaching the last, led run-in, ridden clear, won at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gd in May beating Huelgoat (11-4) by 10l, 5 ran.
Kayce Dutton (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, 11th before 9th, good headway approaching straight, closed 2 out, led after 2 out, ridden and kept on well run-in, reduced lead close home, won at Cork 3m mdn Yielding in Jul beating Getaway Charlie (11-12) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Tzarmix (FR) 16-5 (11-5) Prominent, pushed along and outpaced home turn, went 4th 3 out, slow jump 2 out, rallied approaching last, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in, led closing stages, won at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) sft in Mar beating L'astroboy (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Private Pike 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division on outside, headway over 5f out, bumped and slipped up bend 4f out, at Worcester 2m mdn (5) gs in May.
Cheltenam De Vaige (FR) 11-4 (11-9) Took keen hold, briefly led 2nd, headed 3rd, not fluent 11th, ridden before 15th, 3 lengths down 16th, soon left in lead, pressed for lead 3 out, soon headed, 1 length down 2 out, kept on one pace approaching last, 2nd of 4, 21l behind Organdi (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
