held up in rear, not fluent 5th, headway 3 out, weakened before last
tracked leader, close up when stumbled and fell 4 out
chased leaders, hampered and lost place 4 out, closed 2 out, weakened final bend
held up towards rear, headway 8th, left 2nd 4 out, challenged 2 out, soon led and joined, rider dropped whip flat, stayed on, holding 2nd towards finish
held up on outside, jumped left 1st, mistake and lost place 6th, mistake 9th, headway on outside 3 out, challenged from 2 out, driven flat, held towards finish
led, mistake 2 out, soon headed and weakened, pulled up before last
chased leaders, hit 3rd, not fluent 8th or 12th, mistake 3 out, losing place when short of room after 3 out, soon weakened
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Captain Buck's is back with Paul Nicholls having won a point for Rose Laxton in March but is 0-12 over fences and several in this are well treated on the pick of their form. One is Monbeg River and Play The Ace likes it here while a case can certainly be made for MONTY’S AWARD. A strong traveller, he gives the impression he’ll stay if Aidan Coleman can deliver his challenge as late as possible and he’s still unexposed over fences. Vendredi Trois won at Kempton in October and is usually thereabouts while Elkstone is a past course winner who will enjoy the ground. Cut The Corner is capable running well fresh but this is probably a shade far for Alastair Ralph’s veteran.
Elkstone 11-1 (11-13) Patiently ridden in rear, steady headway on inside approaching 14th, 3rd before 4 out, weakened and slight bump 2 out, 5th of 8, 11l behind Very First Time (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Monbeg River (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, pecked 5th, outpaced when not fluent 4 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, dist behind Late Romantic (12-0) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Cut The Corner (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, lost place 3rd, left 3rd and hampered 10th, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 27l behind Annie Angel (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Captain Buck's (FR) 6-4fav (11-7) (tt) ww; hdwy 11; led 2 out; drvn out, won at Larkhill 2m 4f gd in Mar beating Azure Fly (11-7) by 6l, 10 ran.
Flying Verse 11-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inside, jumped slowly 14th, weakening in 5th when hampered bend after 4 out, left remote 4th next, tailed off, 4th of 6, dist behind Never Learn (11-3) at Taunton 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Play The Ace (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) In tch til wknd 12; pu nxt, at Ffos Las P-t-p Course 3m sft in Dec.
Between The Waters (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked winner until blundered 4 out, outpaced 2 out, not fluent last, 5th of 6, 23 3/4l behind Thomas Todd (11-0) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Vendredi Trois (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Close up, ridden 5 out, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, dist behind Fr Humphrey (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Monty's Award (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Chased leaders until lost place after 5th, soon pulled up, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Royal Magic (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 9th to next, lost place after 5 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
