mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway before 5th, lost place when not fluent 7th, well beaten 3 out
led, jumped right 5th and 6th, headed before 7th, weakened well before 3 out
took keen hold, prominent, led before 7th until approaching 3 out, no extra from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on inside 6th, led before 2 out, clear approaching last, easily
held up in last, not fluent 5th, progress to go 4th before 3 out, no impression, well held when mistake 2 out
chased leaders, lost place before 6th, well behind before 3 out
held up in touch on outside, not much room 1st, headway 6th, ridden and weakened after next, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, led before 3 out, headed approaching next, well held by winner last
No Substitute has gone close on a couple of occasions over hurdles, including last time at Aintree. He was also second over fences at Plumpton in April but is already a nine-year-old and probably lacks a bit of scope. Donald McCain often runs his recruits from the point-to-field field in bumpers before they go hurdling but Book Of Excuses comes here straight from an impressive victory at Ballingarry. SHE'S LATE looked a bit one-paced at Market Rasen last month so this step up in trip should suit and Jonjo O'Neill's gelding can open his account over timber at the fourth time of asking.
Battledancer 66-1 (10-12) Always behind, weakened from 7th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Dream Flyer (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
Entry To Evrywhere (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leader and keen, led before 3rd, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 35l behind Master Malt (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Flash Crash 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, outpaced halfway, kept on one pace from 2 out, 4th of 11, 34l behind Stephen Hero (10-11) at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (4) gd.
No Substitute (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 4 out, led when mistake 3 out, edged right before last, headed flat, stayed on, held by winner towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Vesperal Dream (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Poppies Milan (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, outpaced before 2 out, never near leaders, 6th of 9, 25l behind Alderbrook Lad (11-0) at Hexham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Ronnies Well (IRE) Gold Well gelding out of Queensland.
Sammy Blade 66-1 (10-9) With leader, ridden and lost place after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off 2 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Roberto Pegasus (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs, 10 ran.
She's Late 5-2 (10-10) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3 out, soon went 2nd, ridden and no impression before 2 out, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Rolling Maul (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in May.
Book Of Excuses (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Cl up, ld 5out & sent on, v impsve, won at Ballingarry 3m ire ptp beating Mile House (11-6) by 15l, 18 ran.
