tracked leaders, not fluent 5 out, driven and one pace after next, never on terms, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, driven and one pace after 3 out, soon ridden, no chance with front pair before next
led narrowly to after 4th, tracked winner, lost place 6th, reminders after 8th, weakened after 5 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before next
always prominent, effort 4 out, ridden after next, kept on and every chance last, no extra closing stages
with leader, led after 4th, made rest, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well closing stages
led in start, slowly away, always detached in rear, tailed off before 5 out, soon pulled up
Ballyvic Boru arrives on the back of a convincing victory at Wetherby last month and should go well again despite a 5lb rise. But the lightly-raced SMITHS CROSS was having his first start since February when placing at Carlisle on his recent chasing debut. He looks up to winning off his current mark with any further progress and Michael Scudamore’s charge gets the nod. Monsieur Co was placed off higher marks on a couple of occasions back in May while Elusive Theatre was still in contention when unseating at Kelso in the same month. Saint Leo has had wind surgery since last in action and is preferred to Ardera Cross.
Saint Leo (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway before 5 out, in 3rd from last, one pace, 3rd of 8, 19 3/4l behind Bigmartre (11-12) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Ballyvic Boru (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, led 2 out, clear flat, comfortably, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Ecu De La Noverie (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Smiths Cross (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 4 out, headed next, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind The King Of May (10-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Monsieur Co (FR) 11-4 (11-6) Chased leader, challenged 3rd until 6th, lost 2nd next, struggling 4 out, left modest 3rd after last, 3rd of 5, 15l behind Demi Sang (11-6) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in May.
Ardera Cross (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, lost place 4th, no danger after, 13th of 16, dist behind Native Fighter (10-11) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Elusive Theatre (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Led in start, in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders in 4th when blundered badly and unseated rider soon after 2 out, at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in May.
