In touch, lost place 3 out, weakened next
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on same pace from next
held up, headway 3 out, ridden next, stayed on to go 2nd last, no chance with winner
mid-division, ridden 2 out, never on terms
chased leaders to 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, blundered 5th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, clear when not fluent next, ridden out comfortably
in touch, ridden to chase winner after 3 out to last, one pace, flat
mid-division, weakened 3 out
As usual for this type of contest a bunch of pretty ordinary sorts line up here and we take Gollinger to be good enough to outpoint Frankincense, Integration and Time Marches On. The selection is really made by process of elimination, but before lumping on consider that he has only ever won once in 14 starts. However, that success did at least come recently, and in fact all of his four most recent outings have been good in the context of this race. So, unlike many of these he is consistent, he handles most going and this trip should be fine, so he is the suggestion. Integration beat Gollinger here over c&d in June but that run was a high point in an otherwise moderate run of form. His subsequent run at Uttoxeter was only 24 hours later and that may have been why he flopped, but he does not have the profile of a horse we would want to back. Frankincense won a selling handicap hurdle at Sedgefield in March but has shown little since, Kaparolo has had a break since struggling at Towcester in June but looks nothing special, while Time Marches On could be the fly in the ointment if repeating anylike some of the form he has previously shown, so watch the market there. However, in this company Gollinger is about as solid as form gets and he is therefore given the vote.
Frankincense (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden and effort, no extra approaching last, 4th of 17, 17l behind Lazy Lena (11-1) at Hexham 2m 4f cnd sll hcp hdl (5) gs in Jun.
Gollinger 2-1fav (10-12) Chased leaders, led briefly 3 out, no extra run-in, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Integration (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sll hdl (4) gs in Jun.
Integration 7-1 (11-3) In rear when mistake 1st, never going well after, ridden and lost touch approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Sonic Anthem (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) gs in Jul, 9 ran.
Kaparolo (USA) 14-1 (10-3) Led, headed and weakened 3 out pulled up at the last in race won by Super Sensation (11-9) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun, 13 ran.
Not Today Sir (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Chased leader, hit 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next, last of 8, well behind Prestbury Knight (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jul.
Airedale Lad (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders and keen, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 12, 20l behind You'vegotmerocking (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gs in May.
Time Marches On 9-2fav (11-7) Held up, ridden 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 17, 25l behind Joan's Girl (11-3) at Catterick 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
