in touch, hit 4 out, outpaced before next, 6th and beaten when stumbled and unseated rider soon after last
tracked leaders on inside, lost place 4th, ridden after next, behind from 4 out
tracked leader, led after 4 out, hard pressed next, driven and headed between last 2, no extra
led, tended to jump right, headed after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
held up behind, mistake 1st, driven after 4 out, never able to challenge
tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, no impression before next, weakened 2 out
in touch, headway 4 out, switched outside to challenge next, led narrowly between last 2, driven clear flat, ran on well
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, never on terms
held up towards rear, driven after 4 out, never dangerous
held up, always behind
mid-division, headway and in touch on outside 4 out, challenged next, kept on and every chance until not quicken after last, no chance with winner when lost 2nd flat
behind, struggling 5th, never near leaders
mid-division, chased leaders before 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression
took keen hold, held up, headway and in touch 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, every chance until ridden and one pace after last, switched right and stayed on to chase winner flat, no impression
Empire Levant has a touch of class while Agent Archie should strip fitter for his reappearance at Stratford, where he may have found the 2m3f trip beyond his best. Donald McCain also runs the four-year-old Sud Pacifique but he's been generally disappointing and is held by CAPE EXPRESS on the form book. Nicky Henderson's seven-year-old rattled up a hat-trick at the start of the summer and ran well in a couple of decent staying races on the Flat at Goodwood and York in August. He doesn't look badly treated on his handicap debut over obstacles. Nampour only found one too good in strong handicaps at Newbury and Sandown in March and won't be far away if fully wound-up while C&D winner Bradbury could go well off a low weight. Kartanian and Cousin Khee are others with place claims.
Empire Levant (USA) 20-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, badly hampered 2 out, no impression, 15th of 24, 30l behind Attaglance (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-145) (4yo+) (2) gd in Mar.
Agent Archie (USA) 9-4fav (11-12) Led, jumped right and mistake 1st, headed 7th, one pace after 2 out, 3rd of 9, 26l behind Hi Note (10-9) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Sep.
Nampour (FR) 11-1 (10-4) Led, headed before 2 out, in 3rd before last, kept on to chase winner flat, no impression, 2nd of 24, 4 1/2l behind Paintball (10-7) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs in Mar.
Silk Drum (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent and reminder 5th, weakened before 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Doeslessthanme (11-11) at Ayr 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Rumble Of Thunder (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division on outside, headway and in touch 5th, mistake 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression before next, 10th of 14, 21l behind Hi Dancer (10-5) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Ultimate 16-1 (10-5) Led, took keen hold, headed 3rd, tracked leader, ridden before 2 out, no extra flat, 6th of 15, 3l behind Local Hero (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Sep.
Cape Express (IRE) 1-6fav (11-5) Tracked leaders on inside, headway to lead approaching 2 out, went left last, driven clear flat, readily, won at Worcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jul beating Go Annie (10-3) by 10l, 8 ran.
Sud Pacifique (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, tailed off after 3 out, 14th of 15, 37l behind Local Hero (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Sep.
Kartanian (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, struggling from 4 out, went remote 3rd before 2 out, plugged on and no impression, 3rd of 9, 38l behind The New One (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Shadows Lengthen 14-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 10th of 11, 42l behind Timesawastin (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Cousin Khee 5-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, outpaced 3 out, kept on from 2 out, never near leaders, 8th of 14, 15l behind Laudatory (10-0) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Cool Baranca (GER) 28-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 47l behind River Dragon (9-11) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy.
Bradbury (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, driven after 4 out, soon lost place, behind from next, 9th of 11, 43l behind Grumeti (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Apr.
The Tiddly Tadpole 12-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, disputing 2nd when hampered 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, stayed on same pace flat, 5th of 14, 4l behind Smalib Monterg (10-2) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Sep.
