held up, mid-division, headway after 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on same pace
held up, towards rear, headway before 2 out, led before last, headed run-in, kept on and held towards finish
held up, in rear, headway after 3 out, chased leaders before 2 out, one pace before last
held up, towards rear, outpaced 3 out, kept on from last
tracked leader, led before 5 out, faultered and pulled up after 3 out
held up, mid-division, blundered 5 out, soon lost place
led, headed before 5 out, tracked leader, left in lead after 3 out, headed before last, rallied to regain lead run-in, very game
held up, mid-division, weakened before 2 out
in touch, weakened after 3 out
Another tricky puzzle to solve but Australasia is clearly improving at a rate of knots, though will have his stamina to prove. Wyfield Rose has already won four times this year and Alistair Whillans' mare will ensure a good gallop, though she's closely matched with the less-exposed Bellaney Knight on their latest run together at Hexham. Point The Way is one of four course winners in the line-up and SUN CLOUD is another. Malcolm Jefferson's nine-year-old is much better treated over hurdles than fences at present and could take advantage here – he won the North Yorkshire Grand National in 2014 so stamina is not an issue and he runs in this rather than the following race. David Pipe doesn't run many here so Kalifourchon's participation might be significant as he won over 3m at Market Rasen in July on similar ground.
Point The Way (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, weakening when not fluent 3 out, pulled up before next, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Doing Fine (IRE) 17-2 (10-3) In rear, not fluent 2nd, struggling 10th, tailed off, 5th of 11, dist behind Al Co (10-2) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in May.
Sun Cloud (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, slightly hampered 4 out, headway from 2 out, 4th last, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 7 1/2l behind Mango Cap (10-3) at Perth 3m hcp (3) gs in Sep.
Kalifourchon (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, effort when mistake next, challenged 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression from last, 5th of 15, 17 1/4l behind Ablazing (10-10) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Australasia (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) Tracked clear leader, headway to lead after 5th, made rest, clear when not fluent 2 out, mistake last, ridden and kept on well flat, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Sep beating Double W's (11-9) by 3 1/4l, 8 ran.
Valleyofmilan (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Towards rear, ridden before 7 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, 5th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Gonalston Cloud (10-7) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Wyfield Rose 9-2 (11-5) Led, pressed from 2 out, ridden and headed last, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Beneficial Joe (11-7) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Bellaney Knight (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Mid-division, headway before last, kept on, 3rd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Beneficial Joe (11-7) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Debt To Society (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) In touch, lost place after 2nd, ridden towards rear 4th, closed form 9th, 2nd after 3 out, challenging when not fluent 2 out, led flat, stayed on, clear towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Aug beating Bourne (11-4) by 5l, 7 ran.
