keen, mid-division, headway 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out
prominent until weakened quickly, pulled up after 7th
held up mid-division, headway 5th, chased leader 9th, led approaching last, ridden out
behind from start, some effort after 8th, pulled up before 2 out
soon ridden in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
led, ridden and headed approaching last, ran on flat
held up mid-division, ridden and weakened after 5th
prominent until weakened 6th
behind from 8th
prominent, chased leader 7th to 8th, weakened quickly before 9th
held up towards rear, headway 8th, stay on from 3 out but never nearer
held up rear, headway 4 out, weakened approaching next
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
held up toards rear, headway after 8th, soon weakened
always prominent, ridden 2 out, weakened last
held up rear, headway after 8th, chased leaders 3 out, ridden approaching last, soon one pace
held up mid-division, headway 8th, soon ridden and weakened
An open affair can go to the consistent Drumbeater, with Kadam, Three Lions, Keepers Mead and Lusaka De Pembo all worth considering. Plenty in with chances here then, but is it hard not to be impressed by the achievements of Drumbeater this season. The Philip Hobbs-trained five-year-old has won three of his four starts, and was returning from a small break when coming unstuck at Taunton last time. Nevertheless he plugged on gamely for second behind Diletia, giving weight to the winner, and his stamina will come in handy here. Kadam deserves to get his head in front but is beatable, while Lusaka De Pembo is one to keep on the right side, but the French import has plenty of weight. Three Lions in contrast is down at the bottom of the handicap and is expected to go well along with Keepers Mead who hails from an in-form stable. All can play a part in proceedings, but we return to Drumbeater as the answer.
Lusaka De Pembo (FR) (10-11) won at Craon 2m 4f hcp chs gd in Sept beating Kan Nejd (10-6) by 8l, 11 ran.
Monteforte 11-8fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway 7th, ridden and weakened quickly approaching 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Graceful Dancer (10-0) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) hvy in Mar, 9 ran.
Drumbeater (IRE) 11-8fav (11-5) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway after 3 out, challenged on bit 2 out, every chance and switched right after last, ran on close home, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Diletia (10-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd.
Lalagune (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Led at decent pace, headed 8th, weakened rapidly, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Miko de Beauchene (11-8) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) hvy in Nov, 8 ran.
Grattan Lodge (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, driven and outpaced when blundered unseated rider 5 out in race won by River Mist (11-0) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd, 17 ran.
Keepers Mead (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Led until after 1st, remainde prominent, led again 7th, ridden 3 out, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) sft beating He's The Guv'nor (11-9) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Versus (GER) 16-1 (9-7) In touch, ridden and every chance after 3 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Valley Ride (11-11) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) hvy.
Miss Fahrenheit (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 2nd until 6th, with leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened, 6th of 14, 20l behind Keepers Mead (11-4) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) sft.
Nick's Choice 40-1 (9-12) Always towards rear, 10th of 15, 24l behind Valley Ride (11-11) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) hvy.
Kadam (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 5th, headed approaching last, no extra close home, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Silkwood Top (10-9) at Windsor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs.
Bunkum 25-1 (10-11) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 11, 8l behind Jaunty Times (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft.
Pardon What 10-1 (11-10) Towards rear, stumbled 2nd, ridden approaching 7th, stayed on from 2 out, 6th of 15, 16l behind Silkwood Top (10-9) at Windsor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs.
Courant d'Air (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 13, well behind Welcome To Unos (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd.
Charango Star 33-1 (10-7) In touch, ridden 9th, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 19l behind Diletia (10-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd.
Dere Lyn 14-1 (10-13) In touch, mistake 5th, ridden after 7th, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 14, 19l behind Keepers Mead (11-4) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) sft.
Albert House (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) In touch, hit 7th, chased leader 9th, ridden and led approaching 3 out, soon headed, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 6l behind In The Hat (10-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Nov.
Three Lions 14-1 (10-10) Held up and keen, headway after 9th, led after 3 out, clear last, pushed out, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Jul beating Wild Spice (11-12) by 7l, 11 ran.
Wayward Melody 12-1 (10-2) Behind, ridden 5th, struggling next, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Magic Of Sydney (10-6) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd, 11 ran.
