not always fluent, held up towards rear, headway before 7th, led 2 out, driven flat, stayed on
chased leaders on outside, ridden 8th, weakened 2 out
2nd briefly 1st, chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 6th, well behind 4 out
in rear, not fluent 5th, pushed along after 6th, well behind from 7th, pulled up after 4 out
raced keenly, chased leader, led after 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on, held towards finish
took keen hold, led until after 4 out, soon weakened
in touch in mid-division, closed after 7th, every chance after 3 out, ridden next, soon beaten, not fluent last, one pace
The Grand Visir won the Ascot Stakes in June but two previous runs over hurdles don’t inspire confidence that jumping will be his game. YOUNG BUCK wears some very famous colours and is a half-brother to five winners. He easily won his only start between the flags and could be anything. Big Shark, Imperial Flem and Go Whatever are other potentially useful recruits from the point-to-point circuit but Cool Destination couldn’t justify strong market support at Uttoxeter and may find one too good again. One For The Team was progressing with experience last season, however, and should be winning soon.
Big Shark (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Chsd ldrs, 3rd 1/2way, prog in 1/2l 2nd bef 3out, nt qckn with ldrs in fair 3rd aftr 2out, left 2nd at last, ko flat, 2nd of 6, 10l behind January Jets (12-2) at Ballysteen 3m mdn Yielding in Apr.
Cool Destination (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Chased winner, pushed along before 3 out, every chance next, kept on towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Fortified Bay (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f mdn (5) gd in May.
Go Whatever (IRE) 6-4 (12-2) Tr ldrs, 3rd 1/2way, smooth prog to ld app 2out, kow from last, won at Monksgrange 3m mdn Yielding - Soft in Apr beating Broadway Joe (12-2) by 14l, 10 ran.
Little Battler (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, always behind, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind Old Jeroboam (10-12) at Worcester 2m (4) gs in Oct.
One For The Team 18-1 (11-2) Keen, tracked leader, led 5th, pushed along and headed when slightly hampered 2 out, soon ridden, weakened run-in, 4th of 10, 7 1/2l behind One For Rosie (11-8) at Warwick 2m 3f (4) gd in Feb.
Simon The Great 28-1 (11-8) Jumped left and not always fluent, in rear, well behind after 8th, pulled up before 2 out, at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
The Grand Visir 50-1 (9-2) Held up in touch, pushed along and weakened 4f out, 16th of 22, 18 3/4l behind Mustajeer (9-5) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Young Buck (IRE) 9-4 (12-2) Ld, slw jmp 5th, 2l adv 1/2way, wo 3out, kow frm 2out, 5l adv when sl mstk last, sow to line, in command, won at Nenagh 3m mdn Yielding in Feb beating Jack Hackett (12-2) by 5l, 9 ran.
Imperial Flem (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Rr of mid-div, 7th 1/2way, rdn in mod 8th 3out, kow past btn horses to 4th appr str, went 3rd last & 2nd cl hm, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Power Of Pause (11-11) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn gd in Feb.
