in touch, headway 4 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, led narrowly last, driven and headed run in, lost 2nd near finish
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, led run in, driven out
not fluent, always in rear
led, mistake and headed 4 out, chased leaders, ridden next, kept on one pace from last
tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden and headed last, staying on when not much room towards finish
in rear, ridden 4 out, never dangerous
towards rear, mistake 3rd and 7th, blundered and unseated rider 10th
Sophie Leech has her string in fine form and Le Grand Chene, who recently got the better of Douglas at Southwell to land a first chase win, can follow up under a 7lb penalty. He showed a good attitude that day and is preferred to Pete, who hadn't shown too much prior to scoring at Cartmel recently. Trip and ground will suit but sometimes form from the quirky Lake District track does not hold up elsewhere. Blazin White Face has a win and two places from his last three runs, all at this venue, and should have more to offer over fences, although he does seem on a high enough mark on what he's achieved so far. Stable companion, Eyre Apparent, a fair fourth at Cartmel last time, is not ruled out.
Definite All Star (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Mid-division, no extra 4 out, 13th of 16, 36l behind Our Nana Rose (11-4) at Sligo 2m hcp hdl 8Evens16 gd.
Blazin White Face (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 10th, chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, no chance with winner 2 out, blundered last, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Stonethrower (11-7) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jun.
Pete 20-1 (11-4) In rear, soon detached, not fluent 1st, headway before 3 out, went 2nd last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) gs beating Red Kingdom (11-9) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Eyre Apparent (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway approaching 9th, not fluent 4 out (water), kept on same pace after last, 4th of 13, 5l behind Gougane (10-13) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Jun.
Le Grand Chene (FR) 4-1 (10-6) In touch on outside, headway 4 out, soon challenged, upsides when mistake 2 out, ridden to lead narrowly when mistake last, held on under pressure flat, won at Southwell 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd beating Douglas (10-13) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Sydney Cove (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up in last pair, headway into mid-division 6th, went 3rd at 7th, led 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden and hard pressed flat, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Red Kingdom (11-8) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gs.
Dodge The Bullet 80-1 (9-7) Led, soon clear, took keen hold, headed before 11th, soon weakened, pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Lutin Du Moulin (10-9) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jun, 11 ran.
Claude Carter 17-2 (11-4) Mid-division, in 5th when fell 5 out, in a race won by Pete (11-4) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) gs, 9 ran.
