held up behind, headway into 3rd approaching 3 out, outpaced when hit next, soon ridden, kept on same pace before last, no impression with front pair
held up in 4th, tracked leading pair 4 out, went 2nd before next, challenged between last 2, led narrowly last, ridden out flat
tracked leading pair, mistake and lost place 4 out, outpaced next, soon ridden and beaten
led to before 3 out, soon weakened
always in rear, lost touch halfway, continued tailed off
tracked leader, challenged 4 out, led before next, hard pressed between last 2, headed narrowly last, soon ridden, held flat
Irving was making hard work of overhauling Bertimont in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on his reappearance when taking a crashing fall at the last. Whether he would have beaten eventual winner Purple Bay is debatable and he might be worth opposing here at short odds. AURORE D'ESTRUVAL was a useful novice last season and had little more than an exercise canter when making a winning reappearance in a Listed race at Wetherby. She looks to have improved again over the summer and could cause an upset with her mares' allowance. Arctic Fire was found wanting in this grade last season but is race-fit and makes more appeal than the returning Sea Lord. The other pair look out of their depth.
Arctic Fire (GER) 2-1fav (11-2) Held up in rear, moderate 6th halfway, progress into 2nd travelling well after 3 out, ridden from next, led before last, strongly pressed at last, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Little King Robin (10-12) at Down Royal 2m hdl G2 (1) in Oct.
Irving 6-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, switched left and went 2nd after 2 out, joined leader when fell last, in a race won by Purple Bay (10-11) at Wincanton 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs, 9 ran.
Sea Lord (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) In rear, pushed along and headway before 3 out, weakened before last, 6th of 12, 24l behind Lac Fontana (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Apr.
Swaledale Lad (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Led, clear before 7th, 12 lengths ahead after last, driven along and headed 1f out, no extra, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Teenage Dream (10-7) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jul.
Volcanic Jack (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) In touch, effort to challenge after 3 out, driven and one pace between last 2, no impression last, weakened flat, 7th of 10, 20l behind Jayo Time (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f cond hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Aurore D'estruval (FR) 10-11fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led before 5 out, clear before last, ran on strongly, won at Wetherby 2m mrs lst hdl (1) gd beating Emily Gray (10-12) by 10l, 5 ran.
