jumped well, tracked leader, led after 4 out, clear from 2 out, nudged along and stayed on strongly from last, easily
led, hit 4 out and driven, soon headed and lost 2nd, weakened soon after
held up in touch, left 4th at 5th, disputing 3rd from 2 out, stayed on same pace, hit last
took keen hold tracking leading pair, fell 5th
tracked leading pair, went 2nd before 3 out, hit next, no chance with easy winner
held up, slow 4th, left 5th next, headway to 3rd when hit 3 out, mistake next
Nonrunner
Hilali gave 7lb and a beating to Sedgefield and Perth winner Indepub at Stratford in August and should have no problem confirming the form on 5lb better terms. He just failed to complete the hat-trick at Market Rasen last time. Sametegal won at Enghien for Guillaume Macaire in April and is lightly raced. Now with Paul Nicholls, he can't be ignored but it took Asteroid Belt three attempts to get off the mark and he might struggle to confirm C&D running with Don't Take Me Alive on 4lb worse terms. He was also behind Indepub earlier. FLASHMAN is pitched in at the deep end on his hurdling debut but, twice a winner over 1m6f on the Flat, he looks the ideal type for the winter game and Richard Fahey has won this in the past. He gets a tentative vote.
Sametegal (FR) (10-5) won at Enghien(FR) 2m hdl sft in Apr, 8 ran.
Indepub 5-2 (11-5) Made all, ridden approaching last, stayed on well, won at Perth 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Sep beating Third Half (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Asteroid Belt (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden between last 2, upsides last, stayed on to lead flat, all out, won at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct beating Forster Street (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Dont Take Me Alive 11-10fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged on inside after 4 out, led before next, joined last, ridden and headed flat, no extra when lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Asteroid Belt (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Flashman 4-1 (8-4) Tracked winner, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, edged left over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 21l behind Red Orator (8-4) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct (flat).
So Cheeky 66-1 (9-12) Hampered 1st, held up in rear, struggling 4 out, 9th 2 out, ridden and stayed on from last, never nearer, 6th of 13, 11l behind Asteroid Belt (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Hilali (IRE) 7-4 (11-6) Mid-division, headway before 2 out, soon challenged, narrow lead last, ridden and headed flat, kept on, no extra near finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Grand Gold (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (2) gd in Sep.
