chased winner who was soon clear, not fluent 7th, ridden before 2 out, weakened after last
chased leaders who were clear after slow jump 2nd, not fluent 4th, never closed and well beaten 4th after last
jumped well, made all, soon clear, unchallenged
chased clear leaders, lost place 7th, stayed on into 3rd after last, no chance with winner
held up in rear well off the pace, headway 7th, 2nd after last, no chance with winner
held up in rear well off the pace, some headway 3 out, no chance, weakened after last
Just six go to post in a race that should be run at a good pace with Wisty bidding to keep his unbeaten Cartmel fencing record intact and he's sure to go from the front again. It may well be though that his mark is getting a little high and handicap debutante BAGAD BIHOUE may well be able to use his good jumping here to hunt down the likely leader. Both Katgary and Oliver's Gold add some depth to the race although both have a little work to do whilst the Moffatt pair Nicolas Chuavin and Fantasy King have questions to answer.
Bagad Bihoue (FR) 4-9fav (11-12) Jumped well, made all, clear 3 out, shaken up between last 2, one reminder and kept on strongly run-in, won at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gs in Jul beating Vosne Romanee (11-12) by 3 1/4l, 4 ran.
Katgary (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 3rd when ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 6, 12 1/4l behind Mirsaale (11-7) at Perth 2m hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Wisty (IRE) 6-4fav (11-8) Made all, hit 1st, clear 8th, unchallenged, won at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jul beating Oliver's Gold (11-12) by 6l, 6 ran.
Oliver's Gold 5-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon outpaced, kept on and no impression, 5th of 12, 9 1/4l behind Stanarley Pic (9-5) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (6) gs in Aug.
Nicolas Chauvin (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, some headway when mistake 4 out, last 2 out, weakened after last, remote 4th before last bend, 4th of 6, 23l behind Wisty (11-8) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jul.
Fantasy King 10-1 (11-6) Held up, disputing 3rd from 3rd, pushed along after 8th, modest 4th last, soon weakened, last of 6, 29 1/2l behind Wisty (11-8) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jul.