chased leaders, driven and outpaced when blundered and unseated rider
mid-division, close up 6th, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, kept on
never better than mid-division
behind, headway 3 out, driven to chase leaders next, soon ridden and no impression
behind from halfway
mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and effort next, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, led 9th, headed 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
mid-division, lost pace when hampered 3 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, led next, driven and kept on flat
chased leaders, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, mistake 5th, headway 3 out, ridden and weakened next
always behind
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, close up 6th, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
behind, pushed along halfway, never dangerous
with leader, lost place 9th, weakened approaching 2 out.
Water Taxi gets the vote over Red Perk, with Tobesure, Lucky Judge and Totally Scottish all expected to figure somewhere along the line. Water Taxi has improved bit by bit this season, and having finished second when stepped up in trip at Musselburgh last time, he can now go one better with this extra journey to his advantage. Red Perk has been consistent enough and gets in with a fair weight. Richard Guest's eight-year-old made Devondale pull out all the stops over fences at Newcastle last time and ran a blinder over hurdles at Wetherby the time before when returning from a lengthy break. He has to be on the short-list along with Tobesure who seems in good heart at present. At the age of 11, he has not got a lot of scope though and is passed over. Lucky Judge did not show a great deal on the Flat this summer but shaped quite well over hurdles when third at Wetherby, while Totally Scottish is better than he showed when pulled up in a better race than this at Sandown last time. It all makes for an interesting contest, and one in which Water Taxi can find enough improvement to open his account.
Totally Scottish 14-1 (10-10) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Nor'nor'east (11-0) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) hvy, 12 ran.
Fairy Skin Maker (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, outpaced next, 4th and no impression when brought down at the last in race won by The Names Bond (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) hvy, 10 ran.
Altitude Dancer (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) In touch, chased leaders 3 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Charlies Double (10-6) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gf in Jul.
Tobesure (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, led approaching last, stayed on, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gs in Oct beating Nolife (11-5) by 6l, 14 ran.
Water Taxi 7-2fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 4th, hit 3 out, hit and headed last, one pace, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind How Art Thou (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (F) gf in Nov.
River Mist (IRE) 17-2 (11-4) Led, headed approaching 3rd, chased leaders, hit 6th, weakened after 2 out, 8th of 16, 18l behind Welcome To Unos (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Nov.
Red Perk (IRE) 3-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along 5 out, effort next, went 2nd after 3 out, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Devondale (9-7) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Nov.
Pottsy's Joy 25-1 (11-1) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders 17th, no impression from 4 out, 4th of 15, 41l behind Bang And Blame (9-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (F) gs in Nov.
