in rear early and keen, soon tracked leaders, chased winner after 4 out, kept on and no chance with winner
tracked leaders, led after 4th, headed 6th, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before next
in touch and keen, with leader from 5th, led next, mistake 7th, clear froom 2 out, stayed on well, eased towards finish
towards rear, mistake 5th, headway before 10th, weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, reminders after 2nd, steady headway from 4 out, soon ridden, went 3rd after last, kept on towards finish
tracked leader, lost place before 5th, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up after 3 out
in rear, headway 9th, went 3rd before 3 out, no impression and lost 3rd after last
led, headed after 4th, soon lost place, pulled up after 7th
tracked leadedrs, lost place from 3rd, tailed off before 4 out, pulled up before next
Nigel Twiston-Davies has his string firing on all cylinders so it would be no surprise to see Bankstair put a poor run at Cartmel last month behind him, though he has a lot to find to reverse that form with Golden Dream. Ere Alfie and Persian Gates may need this, while Farmer Frank and the trail-blazing Oscar Royal were both pulled up last time and have a bit to prove at present. KING PENDA was all out to hold off Danny Cool off a 6lb lower mark at Sedgefield last month but seems to be heading in the right direction now over fences and his bold jumping will have most of these on the stretch. Tim Walford's gelding is taken to score again.
Farmer Frank 11-4 (11-7) Raced in last, pushed along 3rd, reminders after next, 8th and 9th, behind when jumped left 11th, tailed off when pulled up after 13th, in a race won by Cullahill (11-11) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug, 5 ran.
Ere Alfie (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Led, hit 9th, ridden after 4 out, headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Troy Tempest (11-7) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Persian Gates (IRE) 11-8fav (11-2) Led and soon clear, jumped right 10th, 12th and 4 out, headed before next, one pace, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Gentleman Anshan (10-13) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Bankstair (FR) 3-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden 4 out, soon behind, 4th of 5, well behind Iona Days (10-7) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Aug.
Golden Dream (IRE) 11-4 (10-6) Prominent, led 3out, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Iona Days (10-7) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Aug.
Oscar Royal (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 4th until 6th, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Horseshoe Reef (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf, 9 ran.
Marc Aurele (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, jumped left and not fluent 6th, headway approaching 11th, went 3 out, jumped left 2 out, soon hung left, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 10l behind Horseshoe Reef (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
King Penda (IRE) 7-2fav (11-3) Made virtually all, went right 7th, joined and pressed from 3 out, kept on gamely from last, just held on, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (4) gf in Aug beating Danny Cool (10-5) by shd, 9 ran.
Phoenix Des Mottes (FR) 12-1 (9-7) Led until after 4 out, no impression on front pair before 3 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Babysitter (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
