in touch, chased leaders over 3f out, one pace
tracked winner and keen, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
made all, quickened up 3f out, just held on
held up, headway and came stands side 3f out, chased winner from over 1f out, kept on, just denied
held up, brief effort over 3f out
held up, ridden 4f out, plugged on
tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 3f out, kept on
Plane Painter can outstay his rivals, with Missoula, Love Brothers, Valance and Red Opera just a few dangers. Plane Painter opened his account over seven furlongs at Chester last August, but has not managed to add to his tally since. Mark Johnston has stepped the three-year-old up in trip this year, and he has gone close on a couple of occasions, including when caught close home at Doncaster in August. There is definitely a long-distance contest in him off his current mark, and we shall side him today. Missoula does not win too often, but she bounced back to form at Chester just over a fortnight ago, and may go close again despite topweight, while Love Brothers has won round here but is not really bred to appreciate this sort of trip. Valance has plenty of stamina and will be going back over obstacles this winter, and the well-bred Red Opera is another that should be noted if, as expected, connections send him over timber. For the winner today though, we prefer the claims of Plane Painter.
Missoula (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway 4f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Chester 2m hcap (4) gf in Sept beating Jawaaneb (9-3) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Valance (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) In touch, chased leaders 6f out, ridden 3f out, outpaced over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 14, 1 1/2l behind Synonymy (8-10) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug.
Plane Painter (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Chased leader, ridden to lead over 3f out, headed approaching 2f out, one pace, eased inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Toparudi (9-13) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcap (4) gs in Sept.
Red Opera 2-1fav (10-12) Prominent, ridden over 4f out, gradually weakened from over 2f out, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Rare Coincidence (11-4) at Hamilton 1m 5f amt hcp (6) gf in Sept.
Sweetheart 11-1 (9-1) Held up, headway to chase leader 4f out until 2f out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Shine And Rise (9-0) at Kempton 2m 3yo hcp (5) pol in Aug.
The Composer 8-1 (9-5) In touch, ridden and every chance over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Colwyn Bay (9-9) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Aug.
My Legal Eagle (IRE) 17-2 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden on headway over inside 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 12, nk behind Salute (9-13) at Warwick 1m 5f clm (5) gf in Sept.
How's Business 40-1 (8-4) In touch, headway to chase leading pair 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1/2l behind Bold Adventure (7-12) at Kempton 2m hcap (6) pol in Sept.
Love Brothers 8-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 6, 10l behind Music Review (9-0) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) gf in Sept.
