tracked leaders, prominent, weakened 3 out, blundered 2 out
in touch, ridden when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
raced keenly, towards rear, headway 4th, effort 3 out, soon weakened
held up, behind, good headway 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, easily
with leader, led after 2nd until fell 7th
took keen hold, tracked leaders, led soon after 7th, headed 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway 8th, led 3 out, ridden and headed next, soon no chance with winner
led until after 2nd, chased leaders, driven along from 6th, plugged on to go 3rd approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, slightly hampered 7th, shortlived effort after 3 out
behind from 6th, badly hampered 7th, soon tailed off
Armariver is given another chance to redeem himself although Present Orientated and Royal Attraction should not make life easy for him. Paul Nicholls' charge was backed off the boards before his most recent effort at Cheltenham and while backers were disappointed on that day, this looks an easier task if he handles the fast ground. Present Orientated has made hay over the summer and has been in rude form around Market Rasen. He has few issues with the surface and can be expected to run his race. Royal Attraction won well at Bangor and was a surprising price on that occasion given he had obliged in a fast ground bumper previously. Hailing from an unfashionable yard, there is every chance he will be a few points bigger than he should. John Charles seems happy to dictate terms although he is has shown the tendancy to be a little too keen for his own good in the past. Young Dude has shown little on previous forays onto this surface and may be best left alone today. Love Angel would need to improve her jumping in order to take a hand. Double Law is interestingly dropped in trip having failed to get home over further. A good turnout for the prize and we stick with Armariver to pay out for his long suffering followers.
Present Oriented (USA) 11-2 (11-5) Led after 1st, clear next, ridden and headed after 3 out, rallied after last, led towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft beating Tashkandi (9-12) by a nk, 5 ran.
John Charles (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Led until 5th, chased leader, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 7, 21l behind Self Respect (11-0) at Kempton 2m lst nov hdl (1) gd.
Hill Forts Timmy 11-2 (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden and every chance after 2 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Vaughan (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Armariver (FR) 2-1fav (11-3) Raced wide, held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway on wide outside after 3 out, driven to take 3rd last, 3rd of 15, 7l behind Dhehdaah (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gs.
Royal Attraction 10-1 (10-11) Keen, chased leader, hit 4th, led approaching 5th, hit 3 out, ridden and hit 2 out, soon hung left, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Carnival Town (10-1) by a nk, 7 ran.
Double Law 9-2 (11-0) Keen, soon led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 4th of 18, 12l behind Surface To Air (10-4) at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gf in Apr.
Love Angel (USA) 9-2 (11-11) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next, hit last, 5th of 11, 11l behind Madiba (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Sept.
Young Dude (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Prominent, led and mistake 6th, mistake and headed 8th, weakened when mistake 3 out, 6th of 9, 41l behind Harris Bay (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Coustou (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out, held when not fluent last, 3rd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Bishop's Bridge (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Quainton Hills 20-1 (10-3) Chased winner until 8th, soon ridden and weakened pulled up 3 out in race won by Brandy Wine (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 7f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
