tracked leader, weakening when blundered 3 out, no danger after
mid-division, blundered 5th, headway 9th, every chance 3 out, driven and weakened approaching last
led, ridden and headed 2 out, driven and one pace from last
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, soon hampered, eased when beaten approaching last
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
held up, driven and behind from 3 out
held up, smooth headway approaching 3 out, ridden to lead after 2 out, forged clear from last
mid-division, blundered and lost place 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 8th
The form of SCALE BANK'S latest start is working out well and he is taken to add to the profile by fending off the challenges of Will If I Want and Prince Of Gdansk. The last named is getting the hang of things over hurdles and takes the eye as one that can pay his way before too long. Paul Moloney knows the gelding well and it would be no surprise to see him guide him into one of the places. Will If I Want has won or been placed in each of his last four starts, so arrives at the top of his game. All ground comes alike to the son of Accordion and he rates as a big threat to the selection. However, Scale Bank has shaped as if he will be ideally suited to this sort of trip and, as he is in equally good form, it's Allan Swinbank's charge that gets the nomination today.
San Deng 7-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 7th of 11, well behind Breakwater House (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Scale Bank (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway to lead approaching 2 out, headed flat, kept on, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Moonwalking (11-5) at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Will If I Want (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) Led until approaching 3rd, chased leader, led approaching 3 out, pressed front 2 out, headed and carried right flat, no extra, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Saphire Night (11-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Hard And Fast (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division, 12th 5 out, headway to moderate 6th before straight, ridden in 5th last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 25, 16l behind Oscar Dan Dan (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Oct.
Off The Shelf (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Always behind and mistakes, pulled up after 14th, in a race won by Its Teescomponents (10-9) at Cartmel 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs, 15 ran.
Prince of Gdansk (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, not much room and switched left when hit 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Horseford Hill (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Tribe 20-1 (10-12) Held up from 2 out, 8th of 14, 21l behind Factotum (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Los Arcos 100-1 (10-1) Mid-division, fell 3rd, in a race won by Barton Grey (10-13) at Hexham 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd, 13 ran.
Roman Cruise 33-1 (11-1) Mid-division, driven 3 out, stayed on to chase leaders next, one pace approaching last, 4th of 11, 25l behind Presque Perdre (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Anne Sian (IRE) 200-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 10, well behind San Deng (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f mdn hdl (5) gf in Apr.
