held up in rear, pushed along and struggling from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, reminders 3rd, lost place from 7th, tailed off
with leader, not fluent 1st, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace and no impression from next
held up, in touch, headway to go 2nd and mistake 3 out, led next, ran on well from last
tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression after
led, mistake 3rd, pushed along and headed 8th, soon lost place
Croc An Oir looks the one to be on, with Drumbeater, Top Pack and Thepubhorse others that may figure. On the basis of overall form, Croc An Oir should have the legs of these, having not been out of the first three all season. Richard Ford's inmate gained back-to-back victories at Worcester and Uttoxeter in June when put back over timber off a favourable mark after leaving Venetia Williams, and has since put in two good efforts over fences. Despite having to give a stone and upwards away to the opposition here, he has been found another good opportunity to add to his tally, with conditions in his favour. Drumbeater makes his handicap debut today but has been absent since April so is beat watched, while Thepubhorse was pulled up on his last visit here in July. Top Pack finished third in selling company at Cartmel in July, and like the rest of them, will struggle to contain Croc An Noir who is a class above today's rivals.
Croc An Oir (IRE) 10-3fav (11-11) Behind, hit 12th, mistake 15th, kept on to take poor 2nd toward finish, 2nd of 8, 20l behind Parisian Storm (11-8) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
Matmata de Tendron (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden and behind, 7th of 10, 22l behind Beaugency (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gd in Jul.
Thepubhorse 12-1 (9-10) Prominent on outside, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Mocharamor (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf.
Drumbeater (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Pulled early, prominent, ridden and outpaced 6th, weakened after 3 out, blundered 2 out, 3rd of 5, 37l behind McBain (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (E) gf in Apr.
One Of Them 25-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, reminders 5th, lost place 3 out, soon behind, 7th of 10, 39l behind King Eider (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m beg chs (E) gf.
Top Pack (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Chased leader, led after 3 out, headed approaching last, lost 2nd and no extra flat, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Peter's Imp (11-6) at Cartmel 2m 6f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gf in Jul.
