tracked leaders, 2nd 3rd until 5th, lost place 3 out, no impression after
mid-division, slow 1st, closed before 4th, lost place next, soon well behind, tailed off
tracked leaders, 2nd 5th, not fluent next, no impression on winner flat, stayed on
tracked winner until 3rd, hampered after next, lost place before 3 out, well behind when mistake last
took keen hold, in touch in mid-division, mistake 3rd, weakened after 4 out
held up, not fluent 1st, mistake next, not much room after 4th, headway when slightly hampered 4 out, baulked 2 out, soon weakened
made all, clear flat, stayed on strongly
mid-division, headway 5th, 4th when mistake 3 out, 6th and no extra last
towards rear, jumped right 3rd, not fluent 5th, slightly hampered 4 out, headway 3 out, bumped 2 out, soon weakened, mistake last
mid-division, headway before 3 out, 3rd approaching last, no impression, 4th and stayed on same pace flat
mid-division, headway 5th, hampered 4 out, 3rd when not fluent 3 out, ridden after next, 7th and weakening last
held up in rear, headway from 4 out, 3rd after last, stayed on, unable to challenge
behind, not fluent 4 out, never a threat
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, fell 4 out
in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake and hampered 4 out, headway after 2 out, 5th last, stayed on, never nearer
held up towards rear, mistake 4 out, 9th last, never any chance
NonRunner
A typically-competitive handicap for the course in which several appear to have leading claims. Midnight Shot was a very easy winner at Fontwell earlier this month but the soft ground that day suited. Marquis Of Carabas was only beaten a neck on his reappearance at Wetherby while Washed Ashore arrives on a hat-trick after a couple of victories at Worcester. Ballinure has won two of his last three and Lord Wishes is another coming here in good form having won over fences at Wetherby nine days ago. Arctic Gold and Robin Of Locksley could also figure if fully wound-up while Valhalla was backed into favouritism on his return at Newton Abbot, though may find a few of these too speedy. POWERSBOMB must go well if the rain stays away as he's been consistent this year and is overdue a win. Mikey Fogarty rode him to success in a big field at Galway last year on similar going. Florrie Boy is another to consider.
Ruacana 4-1 (11-12) In rear, plugged on after 2 out, past beaten horses to take 4th run-in, never dangerous, 4th of 7, dist behind Wisty (10-0) at Kelso 2m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Lord Wishes (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Held up, slow 1st, closed on inside after 7th, outpaced 3 out, switched right and rallied last, stayed on well flat, led close home, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Pair Of Jacks (11-11) by 1l, 10 ran.
Valhalla (IRE) 9-2fav (11-0) Raced wide, in touch, headway chasing leaders 5th, 2nd soon after 3 out until next, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 10, 5 1/2l behind The Romford Pele (11-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Winter Lion (IRE) 10-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, pushed along briefly in mid-division halfway, ridden and no impression from 3f out, 9th of 17, 17l behind Water Sprite (9-0) at Galway 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Jul.
My Wigwam Or Yours (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway and in touch on outside 5 out, driven and outpaced before next, pulled up before 3 out, at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Washed Ashore (IRE) 2-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, effort 2 out, ridden after last, ran on to challenge flat, led final strides, won at Worcester 2m (4) gd in Sep beating Barwick (11-5) by shd, 7 ran.
Midnight Shot 7-4fav (10-11) Made all, clear before 2 out, unchallenged, won at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Oct beating Zarib (11-12) by 3 3/4l, 5 ran.
Marquis Of Carabas (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, not fluent 5th, headway after 9th, led after 3 out, not fluent last, headed close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Nautical Nitwit (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Powersbomb (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Held up, progress and slight mistake 3 out, no impression approaching last, kept on without threatening run-in, 7th of 13, 5l behind Black Warrior (11-5) at Cork 2m 4f hcp gd in Aug.
Ballinure (IRE) 4-1fav (11-12) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway 3 out, soon pushed along, not clear run before 2 out, led approaching last, ran on well, won at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Jonagold (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Florrie Boy (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Mid-division, effort 8th, ridden after 4 out, one pace from 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 15, 15l behind Whataknight (11-0) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in May.
Robin Of Locksley (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Led, headed after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 10, 23 1/2l behind Draytonian (11-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Byron Blue (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Jumped left, took keen hold in rear, headway on outside 2 out, 3rd last, ran on, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Ballinure (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Dadsintrouble (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, blundered badly 3 out, stayed on from next, finished well, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 12, 6 3/4l behind Starchitect (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (2) gf in May.
Altesse De Guye (FR) 3-1fav (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway after 8th, went 3rd 3 out, one pace and no impression, no extra flat, 3rd of 8, 11 3/4l behind Gaelic Myth (10-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in May.
Dun Scaith (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Held up last but in touch, smooth headway tracking leaders 10th, went 2nd after 2 out, edged left approaching last, driven hung left and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Kamool (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Arctic Gold (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st or 7th, 2nd before 3 out, led next, blundered last, edged left flat, drawing clear towards finish, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Mar beating Calculated Risk (10-10) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
