held up in touch in last pair, not fluent 9th, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, 2nd 2 out, led approaching last, ridden clear run-in
disputed 2nd, outright 2nd 10th, led before 2 out, ridden hung left and headed approaching last, kept on same pace run-in, no chance with winner
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
ridden to lead, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened and lost modest 3rd last
held up in rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, 3rd at the last, last 2, kept on run-in, no chance with winner, jinked right and unseated rider after the line
keen, disputing 2nd until 10th, soon lost place and behind, tailed off and pulled up soon after 3 out
Holly Bush Henry carries 7lb extra after winning at Worcester and Kentford Heiress has gone close the last twice now though last year’s hat-trick of wins all came at Fontwell. Bugsie Malone won over fences earlier this year and is 6lb higher today but Mercers Court can race off a much lower mark back over timber and is preferred to Linguine. BYRON BLUE won at Southwell during the summer and was second off today’s mark at Newton Abbot last month. Brian Barr’s charge gets the nod back over a longer trip today.
Holly Bush Henry (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, going well 2 out, led before last, jumped slightly left, stayed on, ridden out, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Luccombe Down (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Bugsie Malone (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Led but idled in front, pushed along after 13th, headed before 4 out, no impression before 3 out, 2nd of 3, 23l behind Southfield Vic (11-10) at Fontwell 3m 1f (4) gd in Apr.
Mercers Court (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Chased leader until 8th, not fluent 11th, lost place 12th, behind 4 out, pulled up before last, at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Linguine (FR) 14-1 (9-5) Led after about 1f, soon clear until pushed along over 3f out, soon headed, weakened 2f out, soon eased, 9th of 13, 36 1/2l behind Mere Anarchy (9-1) at Kempton 2m hcp (5) pol in Sep.
Kentford Heiress 7-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway on outside 3 out, went 2nd when hit next, ridden to lead narrowly last, headed flat, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Poetic Lady (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Byron Blue (IRE) 14-1 (12-1) Led, clear after 2nd, not fluent 6th, reduced lead before next, headed before 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Premier Rose (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
