held up in rear, some headway after 3 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden approaching last, stayed on same pace flat, went 2nd near finish, no impression on winner
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 8th, led approaching last, ridden clear flat
held up, well off the pace in last, not fluent 3 out, never near leaders
mid-division, weakened 8th, tailed off
chased leaders, went left and chased leader 6th, led after 3 out hit 2 head, headed approaching last, no extra flat
chased leader until 6, ridden 3 out, hung left and weakened last
led, headed after 3 out, soon driven still every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
Loita Hills has been in good form this season, winning three of his four starts but a 7lb rise for the latest of those successes may prevent the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding from winning again and a better bet may be APOLLO CREED, who gets the vote over Master Somerville. The last mentioned has won his last two starts but Henry Daly's gelding has harshly been raised 12lbs for his recent win at Bangor and he may be a shade high in the weights. Bill's Echo had to work hard to win at Bangor last time and is likely to find this tougher off his new mark, while Najca De Thaix, a winner here in August when last seen, may prefer a softer surface. The Luder would have claims if ready for this on his reappearance but more solid claims are held by Apollo Creed, who gets the vote for the in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies stable. The six-year-old lost no caste in defeat behind Contact Dancer at Newton Abbot last time and he is taken to go one better today, racing off the same mark.
Loita Hills (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, challenged after 2 out, led last, hung left and flashed tail flat, pushed out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs beating Orfeo Conti (10-6) by 4l, 7 ran.
Apollo Creed (IRE) 11-8jt-fav (11-10) Prominent, chased winner 8th, challenged approaching 3 out, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, held when hit last, no chance after, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Contact Dancer (11-6) at N Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Aug.
Team Allstar (IRE) 40-1 (9-13) Mid-division, hit 4th, lost place 8th, weakened and pulled up at the 9th in race won by Always Waining (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Sept, 15 ran.
Bill's Echo 14-1 (11-6) Held up, headway on inner and mistake 14th, led approaching last, kept on well, won at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd beating Petite Margot (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Launde (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Led, headed after 4 out, one pace until weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, well behind Greenbridge (10-9) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Kilrogan (IRE) 40-1 (10-3) Mid-division, behind from 11th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Ouzbeck (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd, 17 ran.
Kew Jumper (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Behind, effort 13th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 8, 27l behind Saunders Road (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Master Somerville 4-1 (11-10) With leader, led approaching 5th, headed 11th, led again approaching 3 out, headed last, rallied to lead flat, kept on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Apr beating Double Header (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Najca De Thaix (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Made all, ridden approaching 4 out, jumped slowly last, hung left flat, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Aug beating Leading Article (10-5) by 2l, 4 ran.
The Luder (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Close up, ridden after 19th, headway next, led approaching last, idled towards finish, driven out, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb beating Without A Doubt (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
