towards rear, ridden halfway, tailed off and pulled up after 4th
held up towards rear, headway to chase leader 5th, led 2 out, ridden out
held up in touch, pushed along approaching 2 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, one pace run-in
mid-division, pushed along 3 out, ridden and weakened next
led, ridden and headed 2 out, soon no extra
held up in rear, weakened halfway, tailed off and pulled up after 4
held up towards rear, reminder 3rd, outpaced 5th, headway under pressure 2 out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, lost place halfway, behind when pulled up 6th,
mid-division, mistake and dropped rear 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
close up to 5th, soon behind
Possible Gale, Obay and Staff Nurse look to be the leading lights here and the vote is given to Possible Gale. The selection got off the mark at the 17th attempt last time when beating Dalida. The first two were well clear of the field that day and as Dalida is a useful yardstick he has got obvious claims of following-up today. Obay was making his seasonal reappearance at Cartmel last time when finishing ninth behind Dubonai. He travelled well for a long way in that race before fading, and now that he has had a pipe opener he looks to have an obvious chance. Staff Nurse was pulled-up as she was never travelling at Uttoxeter last time, but her previous effort over the same track would give her a shout in this modest company. However, she is not the most straightforward and the percentage call is to take her on. Ball Games will benefit from this slight drop in trip and he is another worthy of consideration. However, we are quite happy to stick with Possible Gale who has a good opportunity here to follow-up his recent win.
Ball Games 2-1fav (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, 3 lengths down in 3rd when fell at the last in race won by Diamond Jack (11-2) at Cartmel 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gd in Aug, 9 ran.
Possible Gale (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) In touch, led 3 out, driven next, ridden and kept on flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gf in Aug beating Dalida (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Seafire Lad (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) With leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 7, 13l behind Overstrand (11-12) at Perth 2m clm hdl (F) gf in Aug.
Two Steps To Go (USA) 22-1 (10-3) Held up, ridden after 5th, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 25l behind Teme Valley (10-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f clm hdl (F) gf.
Always Flying (USA) 9-1 (10-10) Led and keen, headed 5th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 10, 24l behind Teme Valley (10-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f clm hdl (F) gf.
Free Will 7-2 (11-11) Prominent, weakened after 2 out, left poor 3rd last, eased, 4th of 9, 24l behind Diamond Jack (11-2) at Cartmel 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gd in Aug.
Obay 11-4fav (11-1) Led, headed 3 out, ridden when hit rail approaching last, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 47l behind Dubonai (10-11) at Cartmel 2m 1f mdn hdl (E) gd in Aug.
Staff Nurse (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Chased leaders until weakened after 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Master Nimbus (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gf, 14 ran.
