mid-division, headway when pushed wide after 2nd, close 3rd 15th, soon ridden, went 2nd 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on flat, pressed winner when carried left close home
prominent, not much room 4th, lost place approaching 12th, struggling 15th, went 4th flat, no chance with leaders
pressed leader, led 14th, in command last, idled and hung left flat, held on
towards rear, behind 15th, never on terms
mid-division, slightly hampered 12th, went 5th 14th, soon outpaced
tracked leaders, over jumped, knucked on landing and unseated rider 12th
held up, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 6th, behind 13th, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, soon ridden along, closed 6th, jumped left 9th, outpaced by front trio from 15th, jumped left 4 out
held up in rear, jumped left at times, headway when carried wide and lost place after 2nd, behind 15th, tailed off
held up, mistake 1st, ridden before 12th, behind 14th, tailed off
towards rear, ridden after 11th, behind 14th, tailed off
led until mistake 14th, beaten 2 out, one pace
held up in rear, hit 4th, not fluent and behind 15th, modest late progress
tracked leaders until went wrong and pulled up after 2nd
Some old favourites face the starter here and three of them arrive off the back of recent wins. I'M THE DECIDER normally takes a while to warm to his task but his defeat of Double Chocolate at Stratford has been franked and he may well have the race run to suit here. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding looks a better bet than No Panic and Michigan Assassin but it will be interesting to see if there's any money for useful hurdler Henry Hook back over fences while Bold Perk likes it around here. Tasheba needs some help from the handicapper, however, and Vincitore and Intac may also have too much weight while Pyracantha regularly finds at least one too good, as does Battlecry.
Vincitore (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 14th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, 47l behind Global Flyer (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Apr.
Intac (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Led, headed 4 out, soon driven in 4th, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 8, 35l behind Sizing Santiago (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Sep.
Armenian Boy (FR) 9-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 11th, ridden from 4 out, every chance approaching 2 out, no impression flat, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind The Disengager (12-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Aug.
Bold Perk (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Always in rear, never involved, tailed off, 5th of 8, 26l behind Sizing Santiago (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Sep.
Tasheba 16-1 (11-2) Held up, not fluent 9th, ridden 14th, mistake and weakened 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Nodforms Violet (11-5) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Sep.
Henry Hook (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Made all, ridden approaching 2 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr beating Natural Spring (11-9) by 5l, 17 ran.
Pyracantha 7-2 (11-9) Mainly tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, chased leading pair 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Rebel Dancer (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Sep.
I'm The Decider (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Held up in touch towards rear on outside, went 3rd when hit 4 out, went 2nd after next, led approaching last, stayed on well, won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Aug beating Double Chocolate (11-10) by 5l, 7 ran.
Battlecry 25-1 (11-6) Led until 5th, upsides when fell next, in a race won by Nataani (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Jun, 9 ran.
No Panic (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leading pair disputing 3rd, definite 3rd at 12th, went 2nd 4 out, led approaching last, driven and edged right flat, kept on, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sep beating Or Sing About (10-3) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Hazeymm (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Kpt on wl 3 out; went 2nd flat; no ch w wnr, 2nd of 7, 25l behind Surenaga (11-0) at Chaddesley Corbett 3m ptp gd in Jun.
Michigan Assassin (IRE) 3-1fav (11-7) Made all, hard driven approaching 2 out, soon strongly challenged, left in clear lead at last, ran on, won at Hereford 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gf in Aug beating Stafford Charlie (10-1) by 7l, 7 ran.
Oscar Glory (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, hampered 4th, headway 12th, no extra 2 out, 4th of 8, 24l behind Nodforms Violet (11-5) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Sep.
Persian Run (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 6th, headed 9th, led 10th, headed approaching 12th, blundered 4 out, led 2 out, headed last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Nudge And Nurdle (11-10) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Sep.
