took keen hold, tracked leaders, weakening when blundered badly 3 out, soon eased, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, mistake and lost place 3rd, tailed off 5th, pulled up before 2 out
always prominent, joined leader when hit 4th, led 6th, not fluent 2 out, clear when mistake last, driven out
held up, headway approaching 5th, every chance when hit 2 out, weakening when mistake last
led, hit 4th, headed 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway approaching 5th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, stayed on to go 2nd last, not trouble winner
raced keenly, chased leader until approaching 4th, weakened before next, tailed off
Mud Monkey can make experience count over Park's Prodigy, with newcomers Linkslade Lad and Bollin Fergus worth noting for the future. Whether any of these turn out to be Triumph Hurdle class next year is debatable, but Brendan Powell will be happy if he can get a win out of Mud Monkey here. The son of Muhtarram failed to score in eight starts on the Flat, but has gone close on both outings over timber, most recently over the course-and-distance when a close second to Majestic Chief. He was basically done by a good ride from Graham Lee on the winner that day, and he should go close here, with the fast ground in his favour. His main rival appears to be Park's Prodigy who shaped like a certain future winner on his Market Rasen debut in June. In the lead two out, it was only in the final 50 yards that he ran out of steam, and that can be put down to the testing conditions. With Tony McCoy on board, he is the number one from the Pat Haslam yard. Linkslade Lad ran his best race when just touched off in a fast-ground Windsor maiden last year, but has failed to reproduce that bit of form, so maybe a change of career is the answer, while Bollin Fergus is not guaranteed to have the stamina for this game, but would not have to be anything special to make his mark. All in all, this is best left to Linkslade Lad.
Bollin Fergus 6-1 (8-5) Mid-division, switched left and brief effort 2f out, soon beaten, 7th of 10, 23l behind Apache Dawn (9-3) at Newcastle 7f 3yo hcp (5) sft in Jun (Flat).
Joella's Lad 66-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, weakened over 3f out, last of 9, 28l behind Stanley George (8-13) at Southwell 1m 2yo mdn auc (6) fbs in Dec (Flat).
Linkslade Lad 16-1 (9-3) Reluctant to race, soon driven along and always in rear, last of 11, 17l behind Shaded Edge (9-3) at Lingfield 6f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Jul (Flat).
Mud Monkey 11-4 (10-12) Held up, headway 6th, chased winner after 3 out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Majestic Chief (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf.
Park's Prodigy 2-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders and keen, led 2 out, headed towards finish, 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Devilfishpoker Com (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Jun.
Quite A Splash (USA) 50-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, one pace from next, 4th of 11, 21l behind Majestic Chief (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf.
Stand In Black (NZ) 50-1 (8-5) Made most to over 6f out, stayed prominent, ridden over 3f out, soon lost place, last of 15, 24l behind Rustic Gold (8-7) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jul (Flat).
Muree Queen 16-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened 4 out, 7th of 13, 29l behind Tension Point (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Jul.
Neat 'n Tidy 100-1 (10-5) Towards rear, hampered and carried left 1st, soon behind, mistake 4th and pulled up 4 out in race won by Tension Point (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Jul, 13 ran.
Pertemps Networks 40-1 (10-12) Behind from 3rd, hit 4th, 10th of 13, 47l behind Tension Point (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Jul.
Strathaird (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 13, 21l behind Devilfishpoker Com (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Jun.
