held up towards rear, smooth progress from 6th, tracked leader on bit throughout, led approaching last, edged right, very easily
held up towards rear, headway 6th, ridden to chase leader approaching 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner
soon tracking leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
chased leaders until 5th, soon behind
held up towards rear, stayed on from 2 out, never troubled leaders
mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon one pace
led after 2nd, headed after 5th, chased leader, ridden approaching 2 out, weakening when hit last
not fluent 1st, behind, ridden and headway after 3 out, stayed on
led until after 2nd, led again after 5th, 6 lengths clear after 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten
chased leader, mistake 6th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out
pulled hard in mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
in touch, out paced 5th, stayed on again past beaten horses from 2 out
Plenty of entries here and among the shortlist are Desert Quest, Heathcote, Caracciola and Bureaucrat and our preference at the odds is for a speculative punt about Caracciola. Nicky Henderson's charge often runs well at this time of the season and a cogent argument can be made to suggest that he is well in versus his equivalent chase mark. Desert Quest was known for his quirks on the flat but Paul Nicholls silenced all doubters by turning him into a high class jumping prospect. There should be few concerns about trip or going. Heathcote is potentially unexposed and having had relatively little work during the summer, there is every reason to believe that connections had this assignment in mind. Bureaucrat does not look the most straight-forward of creatures but he should be fit enough to do himself justice after a pipe-opener earlier in the month. East Tycoon has been tried over further but has not been getting home so a chance is taken over two miles. Front Rank has been picking up the Northern prizes this autumn on much softer ground and faces a stiffer assignment. Masafi has ability but is impossible to predict from a form book perspective so the market may give most clues. Of the remainder, Priors Dale has plenty of experience on this surface and could be expected to go well at a price. A difficult race in which Caracciola is given the vote.
Desert Quest (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Held up, headway after 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, 45l behind Straw Bear (11-3) at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Apr.
Verasi 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, hung left flat, stayed on, 5th of 30, 6l behind Sky's The Limit (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Caracciola (GER) 33-1 (11-4) In touch, headway 3 out, weakened approaching next, 8th of 21, 13l behind Acambo (10-4) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in May.
Almaydan 33-1 (10-3) Held up, ridden after 4th, soon struggling, tailed off when unseated rider at the last in race won by Jacks Craic (10-2) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr, 16 ran.
Bureaucrat 9-1 (11-12) Led, ridden 3 out, jumped left, soon headed and one pace, 4th of 13, 11l behind Mahogany Blaze (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd.
Front Rank (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, drew clear after next, comfortably, won at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft beating Time Marches On (10-1) by 6l, 12 ran.
East Tycoon (IRE) 6-1fav (11-0) Mid-division, lost pace 4 out, tailed off from next, 16th of 17, well behind Tycoon Hall (9-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Jul.
The Last Hurrah (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd from 5 out, close up 3 out, ridden to lead briefly 2 out, 2nd and no impression from before last, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Sky To Sea (9-8) at Listowel 2m hcp hdl hvy in Sept.
Priors Dale 5-1 (11-10) Led, headed after 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 14l behind Misty Dancer (10-5) at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs (3) gs in Mar.
Amour Multiple (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Held up, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Take A Mile (10-5) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Adopted Hero (IRE) 66-1 (9-13) Always behind, 24th of 29, 34l behind Desert Quest (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Heathcote 9-4 (11-3) In touch, led 2 out, clear last, eased flat, won at Towcester 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in Apr beating Paddy's Tern (10-10) by 6l, 12 ran.
Masafi (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, ridden, outpaced after 3 out, no impression when hit next, 3rd of 14, 13l behind Rasharrow (11-8) at Perth 2m nov hdl (3) gf in Apr.
Vinmix De Bessy (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Chased leader, ridden and weakened quickly 6th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by At Your Request (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo hdl (E) gd in Apr '05, 11 ran.
Valance (IRE) 3-1fav (10-6) Close up, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 11, 12l behind Festive Chimes (10-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Magic Sky (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened between last 2, 7th of 12, 12l behind O'Toole (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
