held up towards rear, not much room 3rd, never on terms, well beaten when mistake 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 9th, challenged 13th, hanging left 5 out, stopped quickly 4 out and pulled up before next
held up, headway after 7th, not fluent 12th, 2nd when hit 3 out, no impression on winner, no extra from next
prominent, challenged 10th, lost place 5 out, weakened next
pressed leader, led 10th, clear 4 out until flat, driven out
mid-division, not fluent 4th, soon lost place, headway before 5 out, mistake 3 out, 3rd from next, kept on same pace final 100 yards
jumped right at times, always in rear, well behind when pulled up before 5 out
in rear, not fluent 5th, pushed along from next, well behind when pulled up before 5 out
mid-division, hampered 3rd, headway after 13th, mistake 4 out, no impression from 3 out, went 4th towards finish
chased leaders, lost place 13th, rallied 3 out, stayed on well flat, unable to reach winner
tracked leaders, not fluent 5 out, no extra 2 out
tracked leaders, slow 3rd, ridden 9th, lost place next, behind 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
led until 10th, not fluent 11th or 12th, weakened after 13th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up after
Many of these will be campaigned in the top staying handicaps this season. Standing Ovation has already won a Listed race at Newton Abbot this season with his defeat at Uttoxeter last month coming over hurdles. Cowards Close looks a likely type having yet to finish out of the first three in five starts over fences. He won at Sandown when last seen and the unexposed Audacious Plan also enters calculations. It would be no surprise to see Handy Andy run well off bottom weight while Drop Out Joe ran well at Aintree in May and will enjoy the good ground. Sego Success and Sausalito Sunrise are better when the mud is flying however. BUACHAILL ALAINN won very easily at Worcester in August and, while this is much more competitive, he's won around here in the past and can take advantage of his proven fitness. The Romford Pele is a class act but might need this.
The Romford Pele (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, driven and effort on outside after next, led last, soon ridden, clear when edged right flat, won at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct beating Lamb Or Cod (11-8) by 6l, 5 ran.
Sausalito Sunrise (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) In touch, left disputing 2nd 8th, clear 2nd when fell 6out, at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Sego Success (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, weakened from 22nd, pulled up, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Standing Ovation (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Led until 8th, led 9th, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Princeton Royale (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Drop Out Joe 11-2 (11-1) Led until 2nd, prominent, led 14th, headed next, soon ridden, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Bear's Affair (11-12) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in May.
Doing Fine (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, 7th after 4th, close up 8th, mistake 9th, reminders before 3 out where impeded, soon no extra, tailed off,, 11th of 17, dist behind Blood Cotil (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Garrahalish (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway 13th, outpaced 15th, some progress after 3 out, no impression, well beaten from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 19 1/2l behind Dursey Sound (10-12) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Oscar Fortune (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, ridden before 3 out, weakened before last, 6th of 7, 19 1/2l behind Puffin Billy (11-8) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Cowards Close (IRE) 6-5fav (12-0) Held up, headway before 9th, went 2nd 17th, led next, jinked slightly on landing 3 out, stayed on well, won at Sandown 3m (3) sft in Feb beating Loose Chips (12-5) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Buachaill Alainn (IRE) 7-2fav (10-6) Tracked leaders, blundered 6th, headway 4 out, led before 2 out, ridden clear flat, stayed on well, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Aug beating American Legend (10-6) by 9l, 7 ran.
Audacious Plan (IRE) 18-1 (10-1) Mid-division, progress into 3rd 4 out, led next, ridden entering straight, strongly pressed 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 20, 4 1/4l behind Heathfield (9-13) at Punchestown 3m 6f hcp sft in May.
Terminal (FR) 33-1 (11-8) Towards rear, not fluent 5th, mistake next, jumped slowly and behind 7th, pulled up before 12th, at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Handy Andy (IRE) 3-1fav (10-11) Tracked leader, ridden before 3 out, virtually upsides next, stayed on and every chance flat, no extra in 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Opening Batsman (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
