chased leaders, lost place 5th, well beaten 2 out, kept on flat, no impression
held up rear of mid-division, not always fluent, well beaten 3 out
mid-division, pushed along towards rear 5th, well beaten from 3 out
held up and behind, not fluent 3rd, headway after 2 out, went 3rd flat, stayed on
prominent, raced keenly, every chance final bend, lost 2nd before last, weakened flat
chased leaders, went 2nd before last, soon ridden, edged left and no impression on winner inside final 100 yards
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before last
mid-division on inside, outpaced from 2 out, well held when not fluent last
held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, ridden and hung left before last, stayed on same pace flat
raced keenly, made most until after 3 out, weakened final bend
chased leaders, lost place 5th, well beaten from 2 out
held up rear of mid-division, effort 3 out, blundered 2 out, soon weakened
in rear, mistake 4th, no impression
held up in rear, stumbled and rider lost iron briefly after 5th, some headway when mistake 2 out, never involved
prominent, challenged 5th, led after 3 out, ridden and stayed on well flat
NonRunner
A very competitive first race of the new season at the spiritual home of NH racing. Fergal O’Brien ran two in the race last year and they finished first and third. Castel Gandolfo and Elham Valley have both been in action in decent company over the summer and could play a part. There is a significant entry from Ireland with One Cool Poet having finished runner-up in a big field at Punchestown 10 days ago. Wojood is fit from the Flat and Downpatrick winner No Trouble makes his handicap debut over timber along with Clay Rogers. Tullypole Annie is rarely far away but LIVELY CITIZEN has a cracking record here and was in great form in the spring, finishing second in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March, well ahead of Calico, before another solid run at Aintree when ahead of Thibault. The in-form Soul Icon is preferred to Pisgah Pike and Nayati of the remainder.
Duffle Coat (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Held up in touch in mid-division, 8th halfway, closer and tracked leaders before 2 out, pushed along in 5th 2 out, ridden and no impression in 6th before last, no extra, 8th of 10, 21 1/2l behind Darver Star (11-13) at Galway 2m 5f Yielding in Sep.
Pisgah Pike (IRE) 18-1 (12-0) Led until before 2nd, soon led again, headed after 3rd, led after 3 out, headed just after last, lost 2nd and kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 12, 4 1/4l behind Mandocello (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Thibault 3-1 (11-13) Mid-division, chased leaders home turn, ridden before 2 out, ran on one pace, 3rd of 7, 4l behind See The Sea (12-0) at Plumpton 2m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Nayati (FR) 16-1 (12-2) Held up rear of mid-division, bumped 4th, headway 2 out, switched right and went 2nd last, led flat, stayed on, won at Perth 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Long Stay (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Swaffham Bulbeck (IRE) 13-2 (12-0) Disputed lead, outright lead after 5th, challenged before 2 out, headed before last, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 6, 17 1/2l behind Soul Icon (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Calico (GER) 6-1 (11-12) Raced wide tracked leaders, chased clear leader 6th until ridden 2 out, soon weakened, stumbled last, 6th of 9, 21 1/2l behind Shantou Express (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Glimpse Of Gold 8-1 (12-0) Led, pushed along and headed home turn, gradually faded, 4th of 6, 11 1/2l behind Mark Of Gold (11-12) at Plumpton 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
No Trouble (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Towards rear, 6th halfway, progress into 4th before 2 out, went 3rd soon after, headway travelling well to lead last, soon ridden and kept on well, won at Downpatrick 2m 3f Yielding in Oct beating Prince Zaltar (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Castel Gandolfo (IRE) 10-3fav (11-5) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, closed after 3 out, not clear run before 2 out, soon ridden, unable to quicken and held flat, 4th of 12, 5l behind Mandocello (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Lively Citizen (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Held up in touch in mid-division on inside, closed from 5th, chasing leaders 2 out, held last, weakened flat, 6th of 16, 13l behind Hacker Des Places (11-2) at Aintree 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Tullypole Annie (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Close up, 4th after 4th, 3rd after 5th, improved to lead narrowly 3 out, disputed approaching straight, led before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 13, shd behind John Cannon (11-5) at Tipperary 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Oct.
Elham Valley (FR) 11-2 (11-11) Held up in 5th, headway before 2 out, went close 3rd soon after 2 out, 2nd out wide between last two, soon ridden, stayed on run-in, always held, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Hurricane Ali (12-2) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Wojood 7-1 (9-12) Rear of mid-division, 9th and pushed along early straight, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong to go 5th close home, 5th of 15, 9l behind Itsalonglongroad (8-13) at Thurles 1m 4f hcp sft in Oct.
One Cool Poet (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Mid-division, hampered at 3rd, soon rear of mid-division, progress 3 out, left 5th 2 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, 2nd at last, kept on under pressure run-in, went 2nd near line, 2nd of 20, 1l behind One Last Tango (11-9) at Punchestown 2m hcp gd in Oct.
Soul Icon 4-6fav (10-6) Disputed lead, headed after 5th, pushed along before 2 out, narrow lead jumping the last, stayed on strongly final furlong, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Denable (10-2) by 5 1/2l, 6 ran.
Clay Rogers (IRE) 11-8 (11-5) With leader, led 2nd, not fluent 7th, clear 3 out, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) gd in Sep beating Chance A Tune (11-5) by 10l, 4 ran.
