held up, headway to chase leader 4th, led 6th, clear 3 out until after 2 out, soon headed, no impression last
held up towards rear, raced keenly, not that fluent, headway 3 out, 3rd and weakening before last
chased leaders early, soon towards rear, never able to get back on terms, well beaten 2 out
chased winner until 2nd, outpaced 4 out, well beaten from next
led until 6th, slow 4 out, led again final bend, clear last, stayed on well
chased leaders, mistakes, went 2nd 2nd until 4th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
jumped left at times and careful, held up in rear, mistakes 7th and 8th, never on terms
NonRunner
Atlantic Storm and the hat-trick seeking Romanor are both seeking a fifth course victory but this is a wide-open handicap, though Away For Slates has had a break and Ballyneety has some improving to do. LARCH HILL beat Atlantic Storm and Darling Du Large here in April and could be the pick of the weights, even though he was beaten in a selling hurdle last time and has subsequently changed stables. Ambassador is making his debut over fences but is 2lb lower than his hurdles rating so could play a part.
Romanor 7-4fav (12-0) Raced keenly, chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, challenged 4 out, stayed on flat, led close home, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) gd in Jul beating Schmidt (11-12) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Darling Du Large (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Held up last, hit 3 out, headway into 2nd before the last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 8 1/2l behind Admiral's Sunset (10-0) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Atlantic Storm (IRE) 15-2 (10-6) Held up in last pair, closed on outside 8th, outpaced 4 out, well held by front pair next, 4th of 5, 11 1/2l behind Admiral's Sunset (10-0) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Away For Slates (IRE) 18-1 (10-11) Led 2nd, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Thomas Todd (11-8) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in May.
Larch Hill (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 4 out, made forward move on outside to challenge before 2 out, kept on same pace in 2nd, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Coole Well (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (5) gd in Aug.
Jarlath 15-2 (11-3) Always behind, tailed off 12th, eased after 3 out, never a factor, 7th of 10, dist behind Diligent (12-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Ambassador (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, never dangerous, no extra final 150 yards, 8th of 15, 6l behind Stonific (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Ballyneety 12-1 (12-1) Always behind, 6th of 8, dist behind Rooster Cogburn (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
