held up, not fluent 2nd, jumped right 6th, not fluent 7th, effort 9th, outpaced and no impression after 4 out
held up in rear, slightly hampered 4th, not fluent 7th or 8th, headway next, not fluent 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened next
held up, slightly hampered 4th, hit 8th, mistake and struggling from next
led until 9th, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened 3 out, took modest 3rd towards finish
mid-division, headway 3rd, ran wide on bend before 3 out, soon moved into 2nd, challenged 2 out, no extra final 100 yards
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, blundered and unseated rider 4th
pressed leader, led 9th, hard pressed 2 out, hit last, stayed on well to come clear final 100 yards
Clu Agus Cail won over hurdles at Stratford last week and is 5lb lower for her chasing bow. She could be interesting but Walls Way was put up 8lb after scoring at Bangor last month and is probably worth opposing. Louis Ludwig is a consistent sort over timber and worth another chance over the larger obstacles. He makes more appeal than Chris Gordon's pair Ballagio and Highly Regal but EPEE CELESTE may be a tougher nut to crack. Placed twice over fences in France, the mare was reappearing after a long break when third over hurdles at Worcester and surely has more to offer.
Ballagio (IRE) 15-2 (11-10) Held up in 4th, not fluent 5th, lost place 7th, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, blundered 2 out, 6th of 7, well behind Sunsetten (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Jul.
Louis Ludwig (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, went 3rd from last, kept on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 13, 10l behind General Eliott (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul.
Highly Regal (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, behind from 4th, last of 15, 47l behind Long Distance (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jul.
Epee Celeste (FR) 9-2 (11-12) In touch in mid-division, headway 5th, 3rd and no impression 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 10, 26l behind Tegan Lee (10-10) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Jul.
Petito (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, mistakes, went 2nd after 3rd until 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Taaresh (10-12) at Worcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Walls Way 16-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 11th, ridden approaching last, stayed on flat, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jul beating Golden Dream (10-10) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Frameit (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, ridden 3 out, no extra last, 6th of 13, 22l behind Heron Bay (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f sell hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Clu Agus Cail (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, edged left and led 2 out, driven out, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf beating Tara Warrior (11-12) by 4l, 16 ran.
