in touch, led after 2nd, made rest, hit 6th, joined 9th, ridden and hard pressed last, held on well under pressure flat
raced keenly, led to after 2nd, jumped big next, held up towards rear in touch, blundered 13th, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
jumped right and mistakes early, in rear when pulled up before 5th
held up behind in touch, blundered and unseated rider 9th
tracked leading pair, ridden and outpaced between last 2, rallied on inside flat, held towards finish
held up in touch, mistake 13th, tracked leaders 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, challenged last, soon ridden, kept on and every chance flat, no extra towards finish
in touch, tracked winner after 2nd, disputed lead 9th, hit 12th, blundered and lost place 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
Nonrunner
Safari Adventures fell on his return after a summer vacation and this tempers enthusiasm for one who won really well at Aintree in June. On his successful run he looks a good proposition for this but on the only previous occasion when he has fallen, he performed poorly the next time out. SOTOVIK gets the vote to continue his winning sequence. The trip should be suitable and off just a 6lb higher mark for this race he can score. Or De Grugy won here on quicker ground last time and has strong claims with Alexander Voy usefully claiming 7lb off his back. In what should be a closely fought affair, the marginal call goes to Sotovik to take advantage from the bottom of the weights.
Sheriff Hutton (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, outpaced 14th, hit 3 out, never dangerous, 6th of 7, 39l behind Bill's Echo (10-10) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Jun.
Safari Adventures (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Led 2nd to 8th, tracked leader until fell next, in a race won by Just Smudge (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Oct, 9 ran.
Zitenka (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up in touch and keen, towards rear from 4th, struggling from 15th, tailed off, 6th of 10, 31l behind Or de Grugy (10-10) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct.
Middleton Dene (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders on inner, reminders after 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Bally Wall (10-1) at Ayr 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Jack The Blaster 15-2 (11-1) Mid-division on inside, weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Ollie Magern (11-8) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in May, 12 ran.
Or de Grugy (FR) 11-1 (10-10) Led to 5th, regained lead 12th, ridden after last, stayed on strongly final 100 yards, won at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct beating Always Right (11-1) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Cast Iron Casey (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division on inside, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd after last, kept on run-in, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Or de Grugy (10-10) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct.
Stagecoach Amber (USA) 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden and outpaced 4 out, just held on for 3rd, 3rd of 6, 24l behind Presenting Forever (11-5) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Sotovik (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, jumped right 6th, 7th and 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on gamely to lead close home, won at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (4) gs in Oct beating Cantgeton (11-4) by 1l, 12 ran.
