in rear, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 4 out, not fluent 2 out, plugged on flat, went 2nd near finish, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 8th until 4 out, hanging left and beaten next, no extra 2 out
tracked leader, led 6th, mistake and headed next, led 8th, headed 3 out, edged right and led again after last, soon clear
chased leaders, led and guessed at 3 out, mistake last, soon headed, no extra and lost 2nd near finish
raced freely, led until not fluent 6th, led next, headed 8th, weakened and pulled up before 4 out
held up, some headway before 4 out, no impression, soon well beaten
held up, jumped right 2nd, struggling from 7th, well beaten after next, tailed off
KING ALFONSO won easily reverting to fences at Bangor. Richard Patrick can only take off 3lb now but there is no reason why Dai Burchell’s in-form nine-year-old shouldn’t go close to completing his hat-trick. McCabe Creek could be interesting now that the handicapper is beginning to relent but he’ll need to improve on recent efforts. Salto Chisco is 4lb higher than when second at Bangor last month and better treated over hurdles at present while Dr Dunraven appears to have gone off the boil and Dark Invader has also become disappointing.
Salto Chisco (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never able to challenge, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Chieftain's Choice (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
McCabe Creek (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Chased leader, led after 3rd, ridden and headed before the last, 4th and beaten when badly hampered and left 3rd last, lost that position run-in, 4th of 6, 20 3/4l behind Ontopoftheworld (10-11) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
King Alfonso 4-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 9th, led after 4 out, driven and edged right flat, stayed on well and clear towards finish, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug beating Boy In A Bentley (11-11) by 6l, 7 ran.
Dr Dunraven 9-1 (11-2) Held up in 4th, tracked leaders after 4 out, effort and every chance when mistake 2 out, soon lost place, no impression before last, 5th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Solstalla (10-8) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Mitebeall Forluck 33-1 (11-7) Held up in 4th, lost place 10th, weakened and pulled up before next, at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Dark Invader (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Hit 3rd, behind, some headway before 3 out, stayed on to take poor 3rd fiat, no chance with very easy winner, 3rd of 6, 30 1/2l behind Winner Massagot (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Saffron Prince 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, mistake 5th, lost place 8th, behind when pulled up before 4 out, at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (4) gf in Aug.
