held up towards rear, fell 8th
tracked leaders, reminders approaching 12th, weakened approaching next
tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden to go clear approaching 3 out, kept on well
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on, no impression
mid-division, weakened after 4 out, held in 4th when blundered 2 out
in rear, reminders after 5th, tailed off from 7th, pulled up before 11th
with leader, led 3rd, headed after 7th, led again after 9th, headed 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
towards rear, chased leaders after 10th, chased winner after 4 out until 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear, blundered 12th, pulled up before next
led to 3rd, led again after 7th, blundered 9th and soon headed, pulled up after 10th
AP McCoy was aboard the winner of this last year and can repeat the trick on ROKINHORSESCIENCE, who is taken to account for Keltic Lord, Sam Cruise and Free Speech. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding remains a maiden but ran his best race to date when second here last time on only his third start over fences. A further step up in trip seems certain to suit and he's kept to the same mark of 94, so we're hopeful a maiden victory awaits. Keltic Lord has a modest strike-rate and is totally dependant on quick ground but if he gets it he's handicapped to go close arriving on the back of a decent second, although at 14 years of age perhaps his winning chances have gone. Sam Cruise paid the price for a comfortable Worcester victory on his penultimate start with a rather excessive 11lb rise, but he probably would've finished a decent third off this mark last time were it not for a late mishap so he's got solid each-way claims along with Free Speech. The latter showed plenty of promise when second to a game rival last time out and off the same mark must go close providing that race hasn't left its mark. Nesnaas likes it here and is well treated on last summer's victories, but he's yet to win beyond 2m2f and that has to be a concern, while Wizards Dust remains in the grip of the handicapper. With Sycho Fred and Executive's Hall racing from out of the weights this is best left to Rokinhorsescience.
Whimper (FR) 11-1 (11-10) Took keen hold, tracked leading trio, went 2nd 5th until approaching 4 out, ridden and outpaced soon after next, rallied to press for modest 3rd close home, 4th of 6, 15l behind King Ozzy (11-12) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jul.
Wizards Dust 7-1 (11-5) Prominent, coaxed along 9th, weakened 12th, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Alfadora (10-2) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
Rokinhorsescience (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Led 1st, ridden and headed when not fluent 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Ballyvesey (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jul.
Nesnaas (USA) 4-1 (10-0) Mid-division, lost place 5th, jumped slowly and behind next, blundered last, 7th of 10, 30l behind Viable (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Jul.
Keltic Lord 16-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden approaching 7th, led 10th, headed when mistake 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Marked Man (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp 0-100 (4) gf in Jul.
Cadoulitique (FR) 50-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, ridden after 8th, well behind 10th, pulled up before last, in a race won by Mad Jack Duncan (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jul, 10 ran.
Sam Cruise 9-2 (11-2) Led, jumped right from 7th, hit 9th, headed next, weakening in 3rd when mistake and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Marked Man (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp 0-100 (4) gf in Jul, 11 ran.
Free Speech 8-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway 6th, not fluent and reminder 12th, led 15th, driven after 2 out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Gabreselassie (11-12) at Southwell 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jul.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 5th approaching 4 out, weakened going to 2 out, 5th of 16, 37l behind Sam Cruise (11-6) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gf in Jul.
Executive's Hall (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders and keen, soon settled into mid-division, headway to chase leaders 13th, outpaced 4 out, kept on from 2 out, went 3rd at last, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Hurricane Jack (11-9) at Perth 3m hcp 0-90 (5) gf in Jul.
