tracked leaders, led before last, soon clear
in touch, in 3rd before last, ridden to chase winner and well held run-in, lost 2nd place towards finish
led, headed 4 out, ridden last, soon weakened
held up towards rear, outpaced before last, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, no impression
tracked leader, led 4 out, headed before last, no extra
held up mid-division, outpaced after 2 out, kept on from last, no impression
towards rear, tailed off 2 out
always behind, tailed off 3 out, pulled up
James Moffatt bids to send out the winner of this for the fourth time in succession and is represented by GOLDEN TOWN. The latter won two of six starts on the Flat for Godolphin and may well be good enough on his hurdling bow despite having missed the whole of last year. Crakehall Lad ran well for second on his hurdling debut at Sedgefield back in May when Irish Hawke, a winner on the Flat for Luca Cumani, was pulled-up. Utmost Zeal has had 10 outings over timber so far without success and the rest are even harder to fancy.
Crakehall Lad (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) Held up in mid-division, not much room on rail and bumped after 2f, ridden over 2f out, weakened soon after, 7th of 9, 21 1/2l behind Roc De Prince (9-9) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp (6) sft in Jul.
Golden Town (IRE) 1-3fav (9-0) Tracked leading pair, driven over 2f out, ridden to challenge when edged left 1f out, kept on and every chance inside final furlong, held towards finish, 2nd of 3, 1/2l behind Noble Citizen (9-2) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) fm in Aug.
Hope For Glory 33-1 (10-0) Led, took keen hold, headed before 6th, quickly weakened, tailed off, pulled up, at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (4) gf in May.
Mash Potato (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Towards rear, pushed along from 4 out, some headway and kept on same pace from before straight, 7th of 13, 20 1/2l behind Herbiegoesbananas (11-4) at Roscommon 2m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Jul.
Utmost Zeal (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Keen, held up mid-division on outer, headway before 3 out, one pace and no impression, 6th of 11, 15l behind Alcock And Brown (10-12) at Worcester 2m mdn (5) gd in Jul.
Irish Hawke (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) gs in May.
Silver Trix (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Held up, ridden and outpaced 3 out, 6th of 8, 37 1/4l behind Important Moment (11-0) at Perth 2m mdn (4) sft in Jul.
Skiddaw Poppy 80-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, last of 8, 31 3/4l behind Absolute Angel (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (6) gd in Sep.