raced wide in mid-division, closer 7th, chased leaders 4 out, 2nd after next, chance last, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in
never better than mid-division
hit 2nd, always towards rear
held up in last pair, steady headway before 3 out, pushed along disputing 5th and no impression before next
chased leaders, weakened 2 out, 6th and no chance when mistake last
chased leaders, weakened 3 out
mid-division on inside, weakened after 8th, tailed off
always towards rear
made all, clear 8th, narrow lead last, driven and stayed on strongly to go clear run-in, unchallenged
chased leaders, mistake lost place and reminders 7th, never on terms after
mid-division, closer 7th, weakened before 3 out, behind and pulled up before 2 out
chased winner until after 3 out, chased leaders, weakened before next
behind, tailed off 7th, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders before 2 out, 4th and well held when mistake last
held up well in rear, good headway on outside chasing leaders before 3 out, 3rd before next, one pace last, closed on 2nd but no chance with winner
Plenty of recent winning form in an ultra-competitive handicap. Jack Devine is two from two here and only weakened at the last at Market Rasen when last seen. Justatenner, another course and distance winner, bids for a fourth win in five starts. Fitness is unlikely to be an issue for April’s unexposed maiden winner Blue Flight and Nautical Nitwit was a wide-margin winner over a longer trip at Cartmel last month, though only fourth behind William Of Orange earlier at that track. North Hill has won over 2m6f but has his stamina to prove over this distance. Gordon Elliott runs two with Ibsen preferred to Top Of The Town but we’ll stick with ROLLING MAUL, who took advantage of a lenient mark to win easily last time at Worcester and is still feasibly treated, despite a 7lb rise.
Younevercall (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up, went 11th before straight, one pace approaching last, 7th of 25, 11 3/4l behind Minella Awards (11-4) at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Prominent, led before 7th, made rest, pushed clear between last 2, ridden out flat, eased towards finish, comfortably, won at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Aug beating Court King (10-8) by 17l, 10 ran.
Ahead of The Curve (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Led, ridden and headed on long run to 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 27 1/2l behind Don Bersy (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
William Of Orange 11-1 (11-10) Towards rear, struggling before 3 out, never a threat, tailed off, 5th of 10, dist behind Nautical Nitwit (11-3) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Aug.
Jack Devine (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led briefly and blundered 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, 6th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Wynford (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Sun Cloud (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd and hit 6th, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 9, 26 3/4l behind Allthegear No Idea (10-5) at Perth 3m 3f hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Apache Jack (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Chased leader, lost place after 4th, last 7th, tailed off before 4 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Dieg Man (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in May.
Top Of The Town (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Towards rear, pushed along briefly after 2nd, reminders from 5th, no impression approaching 4 out, soon pulled up, at Kilbeggan 2m 4f hcp gd in Aug.
Rolling Maul (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Chased leader, led approaching 2nd until 4 out, chased leader, led again 3 out, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Miss Mash (10-10) by 17l, 6 ran.
Total Assets 6-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway after 14th, led narrowly 2 out, headed when ridden and not much room turning into straight, no impression with front pair final furlong, 3rd of 8, 10 1/2l behind Buachaill Alainn (11-3) at Cartmel 3m 5f hcp (3) gd in May.
Blue Flight (FR) 6-4fav (11-2) Held up on inside, not fluent 7th or 3 out, closed to take 2nd 2 out, soon led, clear last, easily, won at Perth 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Apr beating Skye Chief (11-2) by 9l, 6 ran.
Bon Chic (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Led, headed narrowly 2 out, regained lead between last 2, ridden clear before last, kept on under pressure flat, all out, won at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Aug beating Rubenesque (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ibsen (IRE) 9-1 (8-4) Mid-division and 5th from halfway, pushed along from 4f out and soon lost place, ridden and no impression from 2f out, kept on into moderate 5th inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 20 3/4l behind Astronomer (9-7) at Listowel 1m 4f hcp sft in Sep.
North Hill (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Held up in last, headway after 3 out, went 2nd approaching and mistake 2 out, staying on when not fluent last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 5, 9l behind High Secret (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Justatenner 15-8fav (11-2) Held up in last and behind, steady headway before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, challenged last, led flat, pushed out, won at Perth 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Creadan Grae (11-5) by 3 1/4l, 8 ran.
