raced keenly in touch, mistake and lost place 2 out, tailed off from 2 out
mid-division, headway 4 out, outpaced 2 out, weakened after last
hit 1st, raced keenly and led after 3rd, headed 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
tracked leader, led 3 out, driven and stayed on well flat
led to after 3rd, chased leaders, outpaced 7th, ridden and kept on from last, never troubled leaders
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased winner 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace flat
held up, headway 4 out, ridden to chacse leaders 2 out, weakened and eased after last
raced keenly in rear, no impression when hit 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before last
This is a contest that lacks strength in depth and what can only be a tentative vote goes to Greenfort Brave, who is preferred to Penteli and Kyber. The last mentioned has every chance at the weights and the booking of decent conditional jockey Keith Mercer is a positive but a doubt remains concerning his ability to stay this trip. Melmount Star has shown little sign of ability in three starts so far but given his connections cannot be ruled out entirely, while City Palace had some respectable form on the level and could be of interest on his hurdling debut. He certainly makes more appeal than stablemate Shady Baron and Glashedy Rock, who has continually disappointed. Chris Grant's Penteli has shown enough to suggest that she can pick up a small race but probably needs to improve to get the better of Greenfort Brave, who represents connections that have done well with their raiders in recent years and could have found a suitably soft contest for this son of Bravefoot.
End of Saga 100-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, well behind Weston Rock (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hdl (D) gf in Jul.
Glashedy Rock (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Always behind, 6th of 8, well behind Tomenoso (11-12) at Southwell 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf.
Greenfort Brave (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, improved to 2nd 4 out, led after 3 out, headed before last, soon no extra, 5th of 13, 10l behind Breffni Flyer (11-6) at Downpatrick 2m 6f hcp hdl 60-88 gf.
Melmount Star (IRE) 200-1 (10-9) Chased clear leader until weakened 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 13, well behind Motive (10-8) at Catterick 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Mar.
Shady Baron (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 4th, effort 3 out, ridden and weakened from next, 4th of 8, 23l behind Supply And Fix (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf.
City Palace 100-1 (10-7) Mid-division, never nearer, 9th of 16, well behind Karelian (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (C) gd in Jan.
Kyber 16-1 (11-6) Led to 7th, weakened after 9th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Little Task (11-0) at Bangor 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gs in Jul, 16 ran.
Penteli 7-2 (9-4) Chased leader, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 4th of 6, 14l behind Friendly Request (9-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf.
