with winner, led after 2nd, headed narrowly and reminder 13th, led again narrowly after 5 out, headed next, soon outpaced, no impression in clear 2nd from 3 out
tracked leading pair, not fluent and niggled along from 8th, outpaced and behind when not fluent again 13th, plugged on to take moderate 3rd after 2 out, blundered and unseated rider last
led to after 2nd, tracked leader, not fluent 6th, led again 13th, headed narrowly after 5 out, regained lead 4 out, clear next, stayed on well, comfortably
tracked leading pair, outpaced after 5 out, never on terms, behind after 2 out, tailed off when left 3rd at last
This looks a decent contest for the time of year, though Vinnie My Boy hasn't really taken to the larger obstacles so far. Book Of Excuses has won a couple of point-to-points and twice over hurdles but disappointed on his fencing bow at Cartmel. My Lad Percy looked like winning approaching the last at Worcester two weeks ago but was cut down by the rallying Barton Stacey and had earlier finished 16 lengths behind Midnight Oscar over timber here. Kim Bailey's charge will be a threat to all if handling the switch to fences but KING BORU (NAP) has always looked like a chaser in the making. He ran a cracker last time over hurdles at Southwell following a break when just touched off by a couple of in-form rivals and will strip fitter here.
Book Of Excuses (IRE) 10-11fav (11-7) Led, clear 5th until slow 9th, not fluent and ridden along from next, headed just before bend turning for home, soon well held by front pair, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Reaping The Reward (11-2) at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chs (4) gd in Aug.
King Boru (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 2 out, strong run flat, left in 2nd place 100 yards, ran on well, not reach winner, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 7, 1/2l behind Aalim (11-1) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Aug.
Midnight Oscar (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, ridden before last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 4, 5l behind On The Record (10-13) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Aug.
Vinnie My Boy (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked winner and keen, pushed along after 11th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, last of 4, 42l behind Minella Reception (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 3f beg chs (4) gd in Aug.
My Lad Percy 7-2 (10-6) Held up in last pair in touch, headway 11th, challenged 4 out, led next, ridden flat, kept on, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Barton Stacey (11-9) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Aug.
