mid-division, weakening when not fluent 10th, tailed off before 4 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, lost place 4th, weakened 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
with leaders until after 3rd, remained prominent, joined leader 10th, led and blundered badly 4 out, soon headed, just over 2 lengths down when left in lead 2 out, driven out
made most until 5th, led 7th, headed before next, not fluent 9th, ridden after next, 4th when hampered soon after 4 out, mistake 3 out, beaten 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
held up, mistake 9th, went modest 5th after 10th, left 4th 2 out, never nearer
held up, headway 9th, challenging when blundered 4 out, soon led, just over 2 lengths ahead when fell heavily 2 out
chased leaders, went prominent 4th, led approaching 8th, headed when hampered 4 out, left 2nd and hampered 2 out, no extra towards finish
awkward 1st, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
held up, soon in touch, not fluent 5th, jumped left and not fluent 7th, weakened after 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
with leader, led 5th until mistake 7th, weakened 10th, tailed off before 4 out, soon pulled up
A wide open handicap chase here but we'll select BRIMHAM BOY to build on his fine seasonal reappearance by taking this from Manoubi and Pelo Du Bief. Our selection is less exposed than most having had just the eight starts under rules and seemed to show improved form when taking second behind multiple winner Dusk at Lingfield last time. That effort came off a mark of 84 and whilst the gelding does have to carry an extra pound today the form of that race looks rock solid and provided Warren Marston's mount proves as effective under these more testing conditions he must have a solid chance, particularly if stripping fitter for that reappearance when he travelled strongly before finding little. That day the gelding was attempting to give weight to Dusk who has since scored two facile successes and so that was probably an impossible task but with no obviously well-handicapped rivals in opposition today compensation awaits. Ten-year-old Manoubi is dropping in the weights and, running here off 87, looks well handicapped considering he won off marks in the low hundreds a couple of seasons back. The declining mark does of course reflect the fact that the gelding has lost some of his ability but a string of solid efforts this year suggest that this veteran is not done with yet and, with softening conditions ideal, perhaps he can mount the strongest challenge against our pick. Pelo Du Bief is in contrast to Manoubi one of the younger horses here although the six-year-old has plenty of experience ¿ this will be his twentieth start of the year. Young Joseph Cornwall's mount won over further than this on his penultimate outing before taking second when turning out off an 11lb higher mark, the handicapper has since dropped the horse back 4lb and that seems more than fair considering the geldings good form and as a proven stayer with a win on soft ground this horse rates a solid each-way proposition at the likely odds. Ballinruane won here over a year ago but has since been climbing the handicap without winning, although that does reflect the fact that the horse usually runs a very solid race having been placed on seven of his last nine outings. This trip may be a little on the sharp side though so a supporting role may be the best that the ten-year-old can hope for and similar comments apply to the interesting Shaking Hands who remains open to improvement having won his sole point to point start before struggling in some decent hurdle contests. For the winner though we return to Brimham Boy to get off the mark.
Anglicisme (FR) 10-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened from 9th, 10th of 18, 42l behind Waltham Abbey (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd in May.
Hurricane Jack 8-1 (11-4) Held up, never dangerous, 6th of 11, 24l behind Bob's Dream (11-5) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Shaking Hands (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Always behind, 8th of 10, well behind Royal Charm (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Ballinruane (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Led to 2nd, chased leader, mistake 3rd, led 9th until not fluent 11th, led 14th, headed and bumped 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Classic Clover (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp 0-90 (5) gd in Oct.
Manoubi 11-1 (10-11) Behind, headway 11th, stayed on to chase leading pair approaching last, soon ridden, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 12, 9l behind Garleton (11-4) at Hexham 2m 4f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Pelo Du Bief (FR) 5-1 (9-7) Held up 4th, headway 4 out, effort 2 out, 2 lengths 2nd when mistake and pecked last, kept on flat, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Youngstown (10-13) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy.
Brimham Boy 7-2 (11-8) Led 3rd, hit 9th, ridden and joined last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Dusk (10-9) at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs.
Smart Man 11-4 (10-6) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from 11th, 6th of 10, well behind Festival King (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Dec.
Millarky 18-1 (10-1) Held up, ridden 4 out, plugged on, never dangerous, 5th of 12, 20l behind Simple Glory (10-12) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in May.
Hever Road (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Prominent until lost place 4th, reminders after next, well behind from 14th, hit 16th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Ray Mond (9-11) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd, 10 ran.
