mid-division, headway and hit 5th, led approaching last, all out and headed close home
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out
led, jumped slowly 3rd, headed and jumped left 5th, weakened and behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up, smooth headway on outside 2 out, soon ridden and no impression
in touch and keen, lost place 4 out, headway to chase leaders 2 out, kept on
tracked leaders, led 5th, ridden 2 out, fading when headed approaching last
held up, headway 6th, ridden and weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakening 2 out
mid-division and keen, not fluent 2nd, headway 2 out, kept on well under pressure to lead close home
tracked leaders and keen, lost place 4th, headway on outside 6th, weakened 2 out
never dangerous
mid-division, smooth headway after 6th, chased leaders 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders and keen, ridden 2 out, faded
A wide open finale to round off what is an excellent mid-week card and Mark Rimell's COVE MOUNTAIN is the hopeful selection to win it as he drops back down to two miles having not appeared to see out the trips on his last two starts. A moderate flat handicapper prior to being acquired by his current connections, he put together two victories off marks of 79 and 92 respectively, winning very cosily on his second victory. He remains 7lb higher than his last victory but reverting back in trip will suit and Aidan Coleman has a 38% win record when teaming up with Mark Rimell this year. Picky won what looked a weak contest at Towcester last time. This does look a better race and on a much different track he could be worth opposing. Double The Trouble could emerge as the biggest threat from a yard that have really begun to hit form. He should be all the better for his recent seasonal debut. Russian Invader is lightly raced but disappointed on his return to hurdling at Wincanton. Chance Card and Bedizen are two others that have chances but Cove Mountain is taken to send punters home happy.
Double The Trouble 9-2jt-fav (11-3) Hit 1st, mid-division, headway 4th, went 2nd next, led to 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 11, 16l behind Kosmos Bleu (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Russian Invader (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 10th of 13, 39l behind Oldrik (10-6) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct.
Chance Card (FR) (10-3) behind Shadline (10-4) at Enghien 2m 1f ch in Mar, 11 ran.
Most Definitely (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, headway when blundered 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 24l behind Levera (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Bedizen 8-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, ridden 2 out, one pace and beaten when mistake last, 4th of 12, 17l behind Royal Rationale (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Sept.
John Charles (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace last, 6th of 16, 7l behind Kayf Keel (10-9) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Fix The Rib (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 4th of 5, 26l behind Warsaw Pact (11-11) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Apr.
Picky 22-1 (11-5) With leaders, led 2 out, ridden flat, edged left towards finish, all out, won at Towcester 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct beating Viable (11-4) by a nk, 18 ran.
King Gabriel (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Mid-division, behind from 4th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by General Smith (10-12) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in May '07, 15 ran.
Cove Mountain (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden when mistake 7th, soon beaten, 4th of 13, 35l behind Sister Agnes (9-9) at Stratford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul.
Free To Air 7-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out, 5th of 11, 17l behind Jigsaw Dancer (11-7) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy in Mar.
Ashwell Lad (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Always behind, struggling 6th, tailed off, 10th of 14, 30l behind King's Majesty (11-1) at Plumpton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Oct.
Backlash 9-2 (10-11) Mid-division, stumbled on bend after 5th, headway approaching 2 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 13, 14l behind Melvino (11-5) at Stratford 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gf in Oct.
