tracked leader, challenged 2nd, left in lead next, headed 4th, led after next, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace on extended flat, no chance with winner
held up, took keen hold, brought down 3rd
held up in touch, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, left closer 3rd, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, mistake and left 2nd 3rd, led next, hit 5th, soon headed, weakened approaching last
led, fell 3rd
held up in rear, hampered 3rd, taken to outside after 4th, headway after next, went 2nd 2 out, led on bit approaching last, sauntered home, not extended
An obvious chance for RIVERSCAPE to win again. The highest rated in the line-up, Gordon Elliott's charge comes here on the back of two flat runs (one good, one bad) since winning at Uttoxeter in July. He has won here before and although rain would be against him this classy sort is expected to prevail. The biggest danger is Grand Diamond who will be fit from the flat and is the only other in the race rated over 100. No Supper drops in grade on his return to action after ten months off, Holyrood is decent on the level but his hurdling form doesn't quite tally up, whilst Galileo Figaro, King's Chorister and Knockbaun Prince all drop in grade but each has oodles to find at the weights.
Grand Diamond (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, went 2nd approaching and hit last, kept on, 2nd of 13, 4 1/2l behind High Stand Lad (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
No Supper (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 15, well behind Victory Surge (11-2) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Holyrood 10-1 (11-7) Chased leaders in 5th, progress into 3rd before 3 out, dropped to 6th under pressure when slight mistake 2 out, no extra, 5th of 9, 31l behind Kaiser So Say (11-1) at Downpatrick 2m 2f mdn hdl gf in Aug.
Galileo Figaro (AUS) 50-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, soon tracking leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 8, 32l behind Bandanaman (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
King's Chorister 8-1 (10-9) In rear, hit 2nd, ridden 3 out, well beaten 2 out, last of 8, 37l behind Galley Slave (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Aug.
Knockbaun Prince (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Soon disputed lead, 2nd from 6th, no extra into straight, 6th of 11, 40l behind Matchbook (11-3) at Cork 2m 3f cond hcp hdl 8Evens09 in Aug.
Riverscape (IRE) 8-13fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, led 3 out, came clear from next, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Jul beating Rafta (10-8) by 5l, 10 ran.
