in touch, lost place 9th, never dangerous after
mid-division, headway 9th, led approaching last, soon ridden, headed towards finish, no extra
towards rear, outpaced 4 out, kept on one pace from 2 out
towards rear, headway and prominent 10th, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well flat to lead near finish
in touch, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent, blundered 2 out, weakened next
towards rear, struggling from 8th
prominent, led 4th, headed approaching last, one pace after
led to 4th, remained prominent, weakened quickly 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, headway and in touch 8th, outpaced 4 out
An open contest with four of the 10 contestants having won around the track and we'll take one of them, JUST FOR MEN, to score. Martin Todhunter has his runners in good nick and Just For Men will relish both trip and ground here. The gelding goes well when fresh and although he is high enough in the weights there are plenty of other exposed runners here so we'll take a chance on him. Lord On The Run would prefer quicker ground, but Innominate will enjoy getting his toe in. Lucinda Russell's runner has gone close on several occasions and would not be winning out of turn. Silly Wupple is an interesting chase debutant for Michael Scudamore and should take both trip and ground in his stride, so a look at the market is advised to see if there is any confidence in him. Oh Pickles is another chase newcomer who acts in the mud and races over his optimum trip, so he is not without a chance, while Rosie All Over is on a competitive enough mark for her first sight of fences in public. Ballynure has conditions to suit but needs a favour from the assessor, while course specialist Lethem Present would prefer this to be run over three miles. A tricky race.
Lord On The Run (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Towards rear, weakened from 7th, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Supreme Being (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gf in Sept.
Just For Men (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Held up, prominent approaching 3 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Reap The Reward (10-8) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Apr.
Innominate (IRE) 8-11fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 6th, headed last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Mr Barnacle (10-13) at Hexham 3m nov hdl (4) hvy in May.
Silly Wupple 9-2 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, one pace, 4th of 11, 7l behind Dancing Mist (10-9) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Sept.
Oh Pickles (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Held up, outpaced after 4 out, soon beaten, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Lodge Lane (11-6) at Perth 3m nh nov hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Rosie All Over 6-4fav (11-12) Always handy, led 2 out, soon ridden, headed approaching last, soon beaten, 4th of 10, 22l behind Bamby (10-5) at Hexham 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) hvy in Apr.
First Fought (IRE) 66-1 (11-8) Held up, mistake 2nd, effort 13th, left 4th last, no impression, 4th of 14, 28l behind Golden Feather (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Sept.
Ballynure (IRE) 22-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 15, 30l behind Bauhaus (11-4) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jul.
Lethem Present (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Led to 5th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Desert Tommy (11-1) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Aug, 9 ran.
Something Gold (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Blundered and unseated rider in race won by Shrewd Investor (10-8) at Newcastle 3m nov chs (3) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
