chased leader, led 4 out, joined last, strongly pressed run-in, found extra and kept on gamely towards finish
held up in 5th, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, soon beaten
raced wide, chased leaders, hit 4th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off and eased when blundered next, pulled up
held up in 6th, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, pushed along in 3rd before next, driven and one pace between last 2, no chance with leading duo, weakened into 4th final 100 yards
led until 4 out, lost 2nd before next, weakened soon after
chased leaders, 2nd before 3 out, upsides last, driven and strong challenge run-in, found no extra towards finish
held up in rear, headway on outside chasing leaders 5th, weakened before 2 out
behind, mistake 3rd, ridden along in modest 4th before 2 out, kept on into 3rd final 100 yards, no chance with 1st 2
Red Hot Chilly is still creeping up the weights but remains in good form and a return to winning ways can’t be ruled out. Tamarillo Grove hasn’t won anywhere but Newton Abbot since 2014, however, while Fields Of Fortune probably didn’t have much to beat at Market Rasen and has been well beaten on the Flat since. LOVATO (NAP) only found an in-form rival too good when well backed on his reappearance at Stratford. He was very progressive last year and can recoup losses as Worcester scorer Stepover has another career-high mark to overcome. Quids In is better treated but became disappointing last season.
Lovato (GER) 11-8fav (11-7) Chased leading pair until 3 out, 3rd again after next, stayed on into 2nd approaching the last, one pace run-in, 2nd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Beach Break (11-10) at Stratford 2m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
American Craftsman (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) In rear, ridden 3 out, hit next, 8th of 9, dist behind Apache Jack (10-10) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Stepover 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, led last, stayed on, ridden out, won at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Included (11-11) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Fields Of Fortune 5-2 (9-13) Held up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 10, 7 1/2l behind Ravenous (9-11) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Quids In (IRE) 3-1 (9-9) Led, pushed along over 3f out, headed over 2f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Lake Shore Drive (9-9) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (5) pol in May.
Red Hot Chilly (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Tracked leading pair, driven and one pace after 3 out, rallied to press winner last, ridden and every chance flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Solstalla (10-8) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Tamarillo Grove (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chasing leaders when hampered and lost place soon after next, rallied last, stayed on well, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Romanor (12-0) at Stratford 2m hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Outcrop (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, led, headed 3f out, soon ridden, weakened and eased inside final 2f, last of 11, dist behind Bogardus (9-11) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
