held up in rear, some headway on outside after 6th, pushed along in 5th and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
pulled hard, led and soon clear, hung badly left on bend headed and dropped to 3rd before 4th, held that position until weakened well before 3 out, collapsed and fell on flat after 3 out
in rear, tailed off 6th, pulled up after 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, left in lead before next, mistake 6th, clear before 3 out, headed before last, no chance with winner
held up in last trio, headway to track leaders before 3 out, went 2nd and went right 3 out, led before last, came clear flat, easily
in touch on inside, headway to track leaders 6th, pushed along when mistake 3 out and weakened
chased leaders in 4th, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
tracked clear leader until after 3rd, went 2nd again before next, pushed along when bumped and lost 2nd 3 out, kept on same pace in 3rd
Nonrunner
Planetoid is an obvious starting point here as he's on a hat-trick after winning at Newton Abbot and Uttoxeter in June and McCoy is in the saddle again. But VERTUEUX catches the eye off a lowly mark as he's been in terrific form on the Flat lately, winning at Warwick and Bath. Tony Carroll normally does well with similar types. Who's Jeff was still beaten 10 lengths when second at Newton Abbot in May while Alwaystheoptimist is better over fences. The Bay Bandit looks too high in the weights but Educated Son could figure if fully wound-up and looks a better bet than veteran Lodgician, beaten in a claimer last time.
Eightfold 6-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, pushed along in 4th before 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 8, 22l behind Tinseltown (11-10) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
Who's Jeff (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, jumped left and soon clear, joined 5th, went left and hit 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon joined for 2nd, no chance with winner, went badly left and mistake last, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 16, 10l behind Honour System (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in May.
Educated Son 25-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 15, 25l behind Dormouse (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Planetoid (IRE) 1-2fav (11-4) Always prominent, led 5th, headed after next, led again before 3 out, ridden before last, ran on well to draw clear flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jun beating Tom Wade (11-11) by 6l, 11 ran.
Alwaystheoptimist 14-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, closed 5th, ridden after 3 out, 4th and no impression when mistake 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 6, 22l behind West Brit (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Sep.
The Bay Bandit 12-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, 4th and one pace when not fluent last, 4th of 11, 6l behind My Lord (11-5) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Sep.
Vertueux (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 6th, lost place when jumped left and looked awkward 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Emerald Glade (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jun, 13 ran.
Lodgician (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Made most until before 6th, not much room before 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Wayward Glance (11-10) at Worcester 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gd in Aug.
King Massini (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Mid-division, lost place before 5th, under pressure after next, rallied 2 out, stayed on to go 3rd after 2 out, not fluent last, never able to challenge, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Tresor De Bontee (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar.
