led until 2nd, chased leader until ridden before 3 out, weakened soon after
held up in last pair, hit 8th, headway on outside chasing leaders before 4 out, weakened next
tracked leader, led 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out where blundered and weakened
tracked leaders, led going best approaching 2 out, clear when hit last
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out until before next, chased leading pair, switched right and went 2nd again 2 out, ridden and well held before the last
off the pace in 6th, tailing off when mistake 7th, pulled up before next
raced wide and off the pace in 5th, dropped to last and struggling before 4 out, tailed off
NonRunner
Present Chief opened his account over hurdles at Uttoxeter last month when tackling 3m for the first time. There’s a good chance he will be even more effective over the extra here but this looks quite competitive and GLANVILLES GUEST was a ready winner over course and distance around this time last year. He wasn’t disgraced in a pipe-opener at Stratford and has been dropped 2lb since. Story Of Friends should be approaching peak fitness after a couple of run at Uttoxeter and I'm Here has bags of scope after just three runs under Rules and looks a stayer. Fact Of The Matter has bags of stamina but is better over fences and may need this.
Fact Of The Matter (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Behind, mistake 12th, tailed off 14th, pulled up after 18th, at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Final Choice 11-1 (11-5) Rear of mid-division, well beaten before 3 out, 9th of 13, dist behind Fleeting Visit (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Aug.
I'm Here (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, led until 3 out, soon not much room briefly, went 2nd before not fluent last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Apres Le Deluge (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f (4) gd in Jul.
Story Of Friends (FR) 15-2 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway from 7th, chasing leaders 3 out, no impression 2 out, 5th of 15, 16 1/4l behind Vancouver (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Glanvilles Guest 18-1 (11-7) Raced keenly in last pair, good headway on outside chasing leaders approaching 3 out, ridden and outpaced after next, 4th of 7, 13 1/2l behind Tel'art (11-4) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Kalmbeforethestorm 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division main group, blundered 5th, soon lost place and behind, mistake 4 out, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind Lord Topper (12-1) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Thestopperdunne (IRE) 250-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, some headway 3 out but still well adrift, ridden turning for home, weakened 2 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Templepark (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (4) gd in Aug.
Present Chief (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, mistake 2 out, led last, soon clear, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Aug beating Little Saint (10-11) by 3 3/4l, 13 ran.
