raced wide, hit 1st, held up towards rear, headway on outside before 4th, chased leaders and hit 3 out, led after 2 out, idled towrads finish, held on gamely close home
raced wide, held up towards rear, headway on outside before 4th, chased leaders 4 out, every chance when hit 3 out, weakened before next
in touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, riddden and one pace before last
raced wide, chased leaders until weakened soon after 4 out
raced wide, held up in rear, 8th and no chance when fell heavily 2 out
led, headed 4 out, weakened before next, behind and no chance when hampered 3 out
blundered 1st, in rear, headway after 4 out, slightly hampered 3 out, weakened soon after
in rear, ridden after 4 out, modest headway from 2 out, never on terms
raced wide, took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway approaching 4th, chased leaders gong well 3 out, stayed on to 3rd before last, one pace and no threat to leading duo
pulled hard in touch, weakened 4 out, beaten when slightly hampered next
towrads rear, headway 4 out, weakened under pressure soon after next
took keen hold, behind, headway and well in touch when fell 3 out
took keen hold, held up in rear, headway before 3 out, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, stayed on same pace from last
mid-division, dropped to rear when hit 4th, soon lost touch and in rear
chased leader, led and hit 4 out, headed after 2 out, rallied gamely towards finish, just held
chased leaders, weakened after 4th, soon behind, behind when slightly hampered 3 out
chased leaders, every chance 3 out, weakened between last 2
Nonrunner
Class horses usually come to the fore in this race, carrying weight is no problem and there have been very few surprises so we can safely concentrate on the market leaders. Sanctuaire was brilliant in the Fred Winter and has outside claims of developing into a Champion Hurdle contender but four year olds have found it difficult to get the better of their elders in this race so he looks worth opposing as long as he heads the market despite reports that he's strengthened up over the summer. Manyriverstocross looked unlucky in the totesport trophy and at the Festival and is potentially well handicapped as a result; the yard has saddled a fourth and two thirds in the last three years and he's arguably a stronger candidate than any of his predecessors. Menorah and GET ME OUT OF HERE were separated by a head in the Supreme Novices' with the former then going on to Aintree where he was beaten by General Miller. That would appear to give the Henderson horse an excellent chance at the weights but Menorah still makes more appeal as Philip Hobbs' charge should be ideally suited by the way that this race is run. However, the vote goes to Get Me Out Of Here in the hope that there's an overreaction from the bookmakers to his lacklustre display at Ascot as a number of the yard's horses have bounced back from poor reappearances to post smart efforts on their next starts. The other runner worthy of mention is Sure Josie Sure who looks very well handicapped on a line through Nearby who has improved in leaps and bounds since being beaten by the Pipe mare in April but it may be dangerous to assume that she's progressed at the same rate.
Menorah (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway 4th to track leaders, led and not fluent 3 out, kept on, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind General Miller (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Get Me Out Of Here (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Pulled hard in rear, under pressure before 2 out, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 16l behind Tocca Ferro (10-2) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Any Given Day (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, led 4 out, clear approaching next, blundered 2 out, hit last, eased towards finish, readily, won at Chepstow 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Oct beating Dantari (10-5) by 10l, 13 ran.
General Miller 2-1fav (11-12) Well off pace in mid-division, pushed along from 4 out, ridden in 4th before straight, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 7l behind Blackstairmountain (11-12) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Sanctuaire (FR) 13-8fav (11-0) Held up in rear, good headway after 4 out, went 2nd on bit 2 out, upsides leader when not fluent last, found nil entering final furlong, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Orsippus (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Issaquah (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Led until 2nd, chased leader, close up when left in lead 3 out, ridden, hung left and headed last, stayed on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Alegralil (10-12) at Wetherby 2m mrs lst hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Astracad (FR) 9-4fav (11-6) Mid-division on inside, headway and in touch 4th, went 2nd after 4 out, challenged when blundered 2 out, soon led, ridden clear when edged left flat, kept on, won at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating Organisateur (11-6) by 4l, 11 ran.
Orsippus (USA) 12-1 (11-6) Held up in 5th and off the pace, some headway when hit 4 out, and weakened soon after, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Clerk's Choice (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Manyriverstocross (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Hampered badly and almost unseated rider 2nd, behind, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, one pace approaching last, 7th of 17, 15l behind Peddlers Cross (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, one pace in 6th and no impression from 2 out, 6th of 10, 17l behind Nearby (10-5) at Wincanton 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gd.
St Devote (FR) 5-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, led 5th, ridden and challenged 2 out, asserted approaching last, kept on well, won at Listowel 2m hcp hdl in Sep beating Star Wood (10-13) by 3l, 10 ran.
Tarkari (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway after not being fluent 3 out, not fluent 2 out, edged right and stayed on to take 2nd flat, not able to trouble winner, 2nd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Palomar (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Sep.
Olofi (FR) 2-1fav (10-8) Held up in 7th, headway to 3rd on long run to 4 out, challenged in close 2nd when blundered and dropped to 3rd 2 out, squeezed through, rallied well and left with chance as winner blundered last, driven and strong run close home, just failed, 2nd of 8, ns behind Escort'men (11-10) at Chepstow 2m Limited hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct.
Puzzlemaster 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, not fluent 4th, led 2 out, clear approaching last, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (2) gd in Apr beating Monetary Fund (11-4) by 10l, 8 ran.
Bothy 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway on inside next, beaten after 2 out, one pace, 7th of 24, 16l behind Sanctuaire (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Culcabock (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, challenged 5th, effort 3 out, soon one pace, weakened last, 8th of 16, 24l behind Nearby (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Sure Josie Sure (FR) 10-3fav (11-7) Always prominent, led after 3 out, ridden before next, driven and stayed on flat, won at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr beating Nearby (11-10) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Fiulin 11-4 (10-12) Led until 2nd, remained prominent, driven to challenge after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Dunraven Storm (11-3) at Ascot 2m nh nov hdl (2) gd in Oct.
