towards rear, headway and effort 2 out, outpaced last, stayed on towards finish
prominent, led 2 out, soon clear, hung right and headed last 100 yards, no extra
towards rear, never dangerous
led 2nd, headed 2 out, soon weakened
in touch, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always behind
in touch, until ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 2 out, ridden to chase leader after last, stayed on gamely to lead final 100 yards
towards rear, headway halfway, effort 2 out, soon no extra
led to 2nd, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 4th
mid-division, brief effort 2 out, weakened last
mid-division, weakened quickly and pulled up after 7th
Benny The Piler is the pick over First Cry and High Frequency, with Johnny Roche and Top Cloud a couple of others to note. Benny The Piler improved dramatically on what he had shown in two bumper outings last term when scoring smoothly on his hurdles bow over the course-and-distance three weeks ago. It could be argued that the odds-on Possextown did not run up to his mark in finishing a six-length second to the selection, but it was still a smooth performance from Martin Todhunter's gelding who gets the vote to follow up. He had High Frequency back in fourth last time, and although the latter is now better off at the weights, Benny The Piler has a claimer on board to offset that negative. First Cry also carries a penalty for his Sedgefield success which came as no surprise after his unlucky last-flight fall there the time before. Beaten over shorter at the same track last time, he will appreciate today's trip and looks the main danger. Johnny Roche is best watched on his hurdles bow, as is Top Cloud, with Benny The Piler very much the one to beat.
Benny The Piler (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led last, ridden out, won at Kelso 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd beating Possextown (11-12) by 6l, 10 ran.
First Cry (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Tracked leader, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, no extra flat, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Little Jimbob (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Hiddenfortune (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Not fluent, led to 6th, tracked leader, led again 3 out, ridden, headed before next, soon weakened, 8th of 15, 47l behind Glingerbank (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in May.
High Frequency (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) In touch, ridden 3 out, no extra from 2 out, 4th of 10, 18l behind Benny The Piler (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd.
King's Envoy (USA) 22-1 (10-0) Behind, lost touch 5th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Another Superman (10-6) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Sept, 9 ran.
Top Cloud (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Prominent, one pace over 6f out, no danger after, 11th of 20, 25l behind Bleak House (10-10) at Haydock 2m nhf (6) gs in Apr.
Johnny Roche (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 11, 22l behind Super Nick (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (6) sft.
Thatlldoforme 200-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 10th of 14, 18l behind Singhalongtasveer (10-12) at Kelso 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
