held up towards rear, smooth headway 3 out, travelling well behind leaders when brought down 2 out
soon tracking leaders, hit 6, close 3rd when fell 2 out
held up towards rear, hampered 2 out, stayed on, never troubled leaders
in touch until outpaced 3 out, stayed on again approaching last
mid-division, headway to track leaders when hampered 2 out, soon ridden, went 3rd and hit last, kept on
led until after 1st, soon restrained in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, effort after 2 out, weakened last
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, led approaching last, ran on strongly
hampered 2 out, always mid-division
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
mid-division until 5th
in touch, led 4th, narrowly headed 3 out, ridden to lead soon after 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, not pace of winner
mid-division until weakened 3 out
hit 1st, led 2nd until 4th, led narrowly 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, ridden and headway from 2 out, stayed on, never troubled leaders
held up towards rear, ridden and headway after 2 out, stayed on, nearest finish
never better than mid-division
tracked leaders until weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division until weakened 3 out
A tricky race but WEATHER FRONT looks an improving gelding who should relish the hill and he gets the vote ahead of Salute Him, Busker Royal and Sunnyhillboy. Plenty of recent winners in the line-up but Weather Front was very impressive when winning last time out at Exeter. That looked a decent enough race and this former Nicky Richards-inmate is taken to defy this mark of 118. Maneki Neko is consistent but his record suggests that he is likely to find at least one too good, so bigger dangers could be Busker Royal and Oldrik. Both are recent winners and come from stables in form. Hernando Royal ran well on his reappearance, whilst Hivikos and Noticeable both come from highly respected yards. Irish challenger Salute Him was well-held in the Newburgh this Summer but his yard are so canny that he cannot be ignored along with the other Irish contingent, however in an open finale it is Weather Front who can score.
Gloucester 10-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, led soon after 2 out, ridden approaching last, headed near finish, 2nd of 13, nk behind Dee Ee Williams (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Busker Royal 5-2fav (11-9) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, led soon after last, driven out, won at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl (3) gd beating Cavallini (11-4) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Salute Him (IRE) 5-4fav (11-9) Towards rear, closer in 9th 5 out, 4th 3 out, led travelling best next, stayed on well, not extended, easily, won at Wexford 2m hacp hdl gf in May beating Brochure (11-0) by 5l, 16 ran.
Keki Buku (FR) 6-4 (10-12) Held up, headway after 3 out, led approaching last, hit last, ran on flat, won at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct beating Simply Blue (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
The God Of Love (USA) 11-1 (10-6) Always towards rear, 11th before 3 out, 9th before straight, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace, 6th of 14, 13l behind Dariak (10-11) at Tralee 2m 1f hcp hdl gs in Sept.
Weather Front 10-3 (11-2) Tracked leaders, slightly hampered 3 out, led next, ridden clear, won at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Oct beating Daring Approach (10-12) by 11l, 12 ran.
Sunnyhillboy (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, steady progress after 7th, hampered 3 out, ridden after 2 out, led soon after last, stayed on, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct beating Pepporoni Pete (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Hivikos (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed after 2 out one pace last, 3rd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Secret Tune (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gs.
Noticeable (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 14, 31l behind Temple Place (11-6) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in May.
Hernando Royal 7-2 (10-11) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 18, 3l behind American Trilogy (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) sft in Oct.
Prince du Beury (FR) 25-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, held up, ridden and steady progress from 2 out, stayed on, went 3rd near finish, 3rd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Busker Royal (11-9) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl (3) gd.
Maneki Neko (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Towards rear, headway 3 out, effort after next, stayed on to chase winner flat, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Nodform William (11-8) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Perpetuum (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Towards rear, went moderate 7th approaching straight, soon no impression, 7th of 12, 29l behind Beau Michael (11-6) at Limerick 2m 2f 4yo hdl sft in Oct.
Equity Release (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, held up, mistake 2nd, headway after 7th, ridden in 3rd when mistake 2 out, hung right and faded run-in, 9th of 14, 9l behind Busker Royal (11-9) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl (3) gd.
Vanishing Causeway (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Held up towards rear, ridden in moderate 8th before 2 out, kept on same pace after last, 5th of 9, 8l behind Dani California (11-7) at Tramore 2m hcp hdl 0-123 gd in Aug.
Unforgettable (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, soon driven and one pace, 4th of 11, 15l behind Sea Storm (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (3) gf.
Oldrik (GER) 11-4fav (10-6) Held up, headway on bit approaching 2 out, led and jumped left last, driven out flat, won at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct beating Bazart (10-1) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Qanta de Thaix (FR) 4-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, held up, headway 3 out, ridden before next, weakened between last 2, 4th of 11, 15l behind High Standard (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in May.
Jocheski (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Held up, steady headway 3 out, ridden to lead after last, soon edged left, headed post, 2nd of 14, shd behind Cove Mountain (9-9) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl (4) gd in May.
South Wing (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 11, 40l behind Mahonia (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (3) gs.
