led after 1st, pushed along, headed 5th, not fluent next, soon struggling
held up and behind, steady headway on outside from 5th, jumped left 2 out, weakened approcahing last
held up, some headway 5th, driven and no impression next
prominent, lost place 3rd, soon pushed along and towards rear
tracked leaders, ridden 6th, outpaced approaching 3 out, no impression when mistake last
in rear, ridden after 5th, no real progress
led until after 1st, with leader until led again 5th, headed when hit 2 out, soon beaten
mid-division, headway after 3rd, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, clear approaching last, easily
held up, stayed on under pressure from approaching 2 out, went 3rd near finish
prominent, lost place approaching 4th, tailed off 5th
mid-division, hit 2nd, headway approaching 4, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
An interesting opener where a number in with chances include Elaala, Border Tale, Kickahead and Master Nimbus, and we will take Border Tale to score. Jimmy Moffatt's gelding returned from a late summer break with a Market Rasen success last month, and it is probably a positive that his trainer has given him almost six weeks off again here. He acts of a sound surface and over this shorter trip and as this is not red hot he is probably capalbe of following up. Elaala has claimed a couple of selling handicap wins just lately. He shoulders a 7lb penalty here in a better class contest and although we can see him running well that will probably be enough to stop him completing a hat-trick. Kickahead beat the quirky Ouninpohja at Ludlow earlier in the year and was last seen as a runner up to Sunday City here in May. Trip and ground suits and if he is straight enough then he can go close. Master Nimbus has had a fairly busy summer campaign under both codes and has conditions to suit but he has gone up 4lb for not winning and he may have to settle for the frame, and Border Tale is the one for us.
John Forbes 100-1 (10-6) In touch, mistake 1st, weakened from 5th, 16th of 22, well behind Kings Quay (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Kickahead (USA) 9-2 (10-8) Held up in rear, headway 6th, chased winner approaching 3 out until 2 out, kept on from last but no impression, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Sunday City (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Muntami (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Behind, headway 3 out, led and hung right before next, soon headed, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 8l behind Scutch Mill (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Sept.
Nayodabayo (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Chased leaders to 5th, in rear when brought down at the 6th in race won by Scots Grey (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Sept, 11 ran.
Tora Petcha (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Mid-division, mistake 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Country Escape (10-10) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Sept, 10 ran.
Nawaadi 7-2fav (11-5) Chased leaders, kicked 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 12, well behind Diarius (10-9) at Newbury 2m 3f 4yo nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Mar.
Roi De L'odet (FR) 17-2 (11-9) Held up, headway 4th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 9th of 10, 35l behind Dumaran (10-11) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jul.
Sualda (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led, jumped left throughout, quickened 3 out, jumped badly left 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra, 3rd of 5, 3l behind Masjoor (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Master Nimbus 6-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, headway when hit 3 out, every chance next, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Decisive (11-6) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Sept.
Border Tale 9-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 3 out, led, going well before next, ridden and kept on flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Sept beating Rocknest Island (10-1) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Lorikeet 14-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden and weakened 4 out, 7th of 15, 37l behind Mister Right (11-0) at Lingfield 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Sept.
Elaala (USA) 7-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway after 5th, led 2 out, blundered last, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) gf beating Soviet Sceptre (10-12) by 2l, 16 ran.
