held up, headway 9th, every chance 16th, mistake 4 out, weakened before next, went 3rd flat
held up, close 3rd going well after 16th, led before 4 out, rider lost iron briefly after 3 out, clear next, very easily
ran in snatches, mistake 6th, outpaced 15th, 2nd before 4 out, well held by winner 2 out
prominent, led 15th, headed before next, soon weakened
pulled hard in rear, headway on outside 7th, led next, headed 15th, led before next, headed approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, lost 3rd flat
led until 8th, outpaced 15th, well beaten before 4 out
WONDERFUL CHARM was yet another winner on last year’s card for Paul Nicholls when landing the odds in this. He was returning from an absence on that occasion too and looks the one to beat again. Gallery Exhibition comes into the reckoning with a conditional’s allowance in his favour while Winged Crusader has had a recent outing when third at Kelso with Thomond behind but has a stack to find on these terms. For Yes and Nine Altars have even more to find and will do well to figure.
Gallery Exhibition (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place 11th, struggling 5 out, soon lost touch, 6th of 7, 27l behind Roc D'apsis (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Wonderful Charm (FR) 11-8fav (12-0) Towards rear, not fluent 13th, hit next and pushed along, modest 8th 2 out, stayed on before last, went 3rd flat, finished well, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Young Hurricane (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f (2) gd in Jun.
Winged Crusader (IRE) 18-1 (12-2) Shade keen, led until 10th, pressed leader, led again and pecked 3 out, ridden and headed before last, lost 2nd last, weakened run-in, 3rd of 5, 10 3/4l behind Al Co (12-6) at Kelso 2m 7f (5) sft in Jan.
For Yes (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Always behind, struggling from 9th, last of 5, dist behind Peace And Co (10-12) at Hexham 2m (4) gd in Jun.
Nine Altars (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders on outside, went close 2nd when blundered 2 out, soon beaten, 4th and weakening last, 4th of 5, 20 1/4l behind Banny's Lad (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in May.
Thomond (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Chased leaders until outpaced and dropped to rear 10th, never on terms after, left remote 4th last, 4th of 5, dist behind Al Co (12-6) at Kelso 2m 7f (5) sft in Jan.
