led until 5th, ridden and every chance flat, no extra close home
tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, led 5th, ridden and headed approaching last, weakened flat
held up, not fluent 6th or next, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up in 4th, took keen hold, not asked for effort after 3 out when leaders kicked on, closed approaching last, led flat, ran on
took keen hold, tracked leaders, jumped left from 7th, led approaching last, headed flat, held close home
Neither Gulf Of Aqaba nor Oscar Sierra make much appeal in this but the others all have reasonable claims. Sansili is chasing a hat-trick after wins at Uttoxeter and Stratford but has plenty of weight for a four-year-old, while Stonethrower's best form is over further. Seedless shrugged off a lengthy absence to score at Bangor last month, however, and is open to improvement. But the one to beat looks to be BIG ROBERT, who won a handicap by 10 lengths over C&D in April and has been holding his own in decent company since. He is well treated at the weights today.
Sansili 7-4fav (9-13) Chased leader, every chance 3 out, led before next, soon clear, kept on well, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Jul beating Teshali (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Big Robert 11-4 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, went 3rd after 4 out, ridden before 2 out, chased winner last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Vinomore (10-5) at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Gulf Of Aqaba (USA) 14-1 (11-5) Held up behind, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after next, in a race won by Sail And Return (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar, 14 ran.
Oscar Sierra (IRE) 125-1 (10-7) Mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 13, 39l behind Geneva Geyser (11-12) at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Seedless 20-1 (10-10) Held up behind, headway on inside 4 out, led last, ridden and stayed on flat, won at Bangor 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Jul beating Yvonne Evelyn (11-3) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Stonethrower (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Led, sometimes jumped right, ridden and headed after 7th, 3rd and beaten 2 out, weakening when blundered last, 3rd of 6, 25l behind Conellie (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
