held up, headway after 4 out, every chance and mistake 3 out, soon ridden, chased winner approaching last, no impression
held up, hit 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
always behind, tailed off from 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, hit 4th, led 4 out, soon ridden, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, hit 3rd, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
led, soon clear, hit 6th, pushed along approaching 8th, headed 4 out, weakened next
held up in mid-division, headway on bit approaching 3 out, led after 3 out, clear when not fluent last, eased towards finish
always towards rear, struggling from 8th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened from 4 out
The Richard Phillips-trained General Duroc holds claims if fit enough for his seasonal reappearance but he will need to be spot on to get the better of the in-form Cill Churnain, who gets the vote over October Mist. The last mentioned, a useful chaser on his day, ran well back over hurdles at Ayr recently and has to be respected over a trip that should suit. Sh Boom and Calling Brave represent stables who's runners always warrant respect and are difficult to dismiss entirely but we prefer to side with the form horse of the race Cill Churnain. Sue Smith's gelding took advantage of a lenient mark to win over hurdles at the last meeting here and now returns to timber off a mark just 5lbs higher than when beating the in-form Xellance at Market Rasen. Sue Smith has a good record at Aintree and Cill Churnain is taken to win his second race of the season at the Liverpool venue.
