held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 8th, reminder before 9th, hit 11th and ridden along, jumped slowly 13th, not fluent next, weakened approaching 3 out, hit 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 15th until next, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, took keen hold, jumped slowly 7th, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd 16th until driven approaching 2 out, no extra last
tracked leader until 15th, lost place next, weakened approaching 3 out
led, jumped big 5th, hung right flat, headed final 150 yards, stayed on
held up in rear, closed 13th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led final 150 yards, stayed on
Nonrunner
Bottom weight Iheardu makes plenty of appeal in this back over fences. The five-year-old travelled strongly for a long way over hurdles at Fontwell earlier this month and should strip fitter here. Shadow Dancer returned from a lay-off to score at Stratford last month and is only 4lb higher here, but Earth Planet has a poor strike rate over fences and was beaten off a lower mark at Newton Abbot last time. Cullahill has beaten a couple of these lately and could go close again but NUDGE AND NURDLE is back on a decent mark and wasn't disgraced over 3m2f at Newton Abbot last time. Sam Waley-Cohen rides this course as well as anyone and his mount can return to winning ways.
Shadow Dancer (IRE) 11-4fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 12th, ridden to lead last, all out, won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Sep beating My Moment (11-12) by nk, 7 ran.
Nudge And Nurdle (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, chased winner after 14th until 3 out, wandered next, one pace flat, 4th of 11, 5l behind Templer (11-7) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gf in Aug.
Earth Planet (IRE) 11-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, headway after 11th, close 3rd from 3 out, no impression on winner when taking 2nd close home, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Qhilimar (11-4) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Sep.
Quattrocento (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, blundered 12th, always behind, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Templer (11-7) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gf in Aug, 11 ran.
Cullahill (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led 14th, ridden and headed next, rallied flat, held near finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Justabout (10-12) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Battlecry 3-1 (11-8) Led, ridden and kicked on approaching 9th, clear before 4 out until 3 out, headed 2 out, lunged at last and rider lost iron, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Cullahill (11-11) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
Iheardu (IRE) 3-1fav (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 8th, chased leaders 10th, effort 2 out, stayed on well towards finish, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Mtpockets (11-7) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd.
Dammam 7-2 (11-10) Made most until lost place 8th, rallied from 16th, stayed on to 3rd before last, no impression, 3rd of 15, 15l behind My Flora (11-3) at Stratford 3m 4f nov hts chs (2) gd in May.
Acrai Rua (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 10th, lost place when hit 12th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Dusky Bob (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sep, 12 ran.
