tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakening approaching last
held up, headway 3 out, ridden and not fluent 2 out, keeping on when pecked badly last
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, one pace
mid-division, weakened 4 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, mistake 3rd, tailed off from next
keen and made all, jumped right home straight, kept on
keen, held up, headway after 4th, ridden to chase leader 3 out, weakening when mistake last
in touch, ridden and weakened 4 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
tracked leaders, weakened 5th
mid-division, headway 3 out, stayed on to chase winner approaching last, always held
Tchico Polos could be anything and will no doubt have his supporters due to connections. However I HEAR A SYMPHONY sets a good standard and gets the vote for the Hobbs yard, who have won the last two runnings of this race. Being owned by Alan Peterson and formerly trained in Ireland seems to be a good starting point for winning this race and I Hear A Symphony ticks both boxes. He has had a summer break since finishing seventh in the Swinton handicap hurdle in May, only beaten by 11 lengths. He has raced twice at this track in the past and despite having to give weight away all around, he should take some beating. Beverly Hill Billy ran a fair race at Market Rasen last time, but he got tired late on and the long run-in here can seem like a marathon so despite the shorter trip he is taken on. Likewise The Randy Bishop who is likely to be seen to better effect when tackling fences, comments that also apply to Indefensible. Ready To Crown is interesting having won a bumper on debut before a winless spell on the level, whilst Top Jeu finished ahead of Beverley Hill Billy at Market Rasen and is not one to take lightly.
I Hear A Symphony (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 7th of 24, 11l behind Blue Bajan (10-8) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in May.
Beverly Hill Billy 6-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, held up mid-division, some headway at 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms, 5th of 12, 17l behind Maslak (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Sept.
Exclusionist 10-11fav (9-3) Chased leader, ridden and outpaced over 4f out, kept on from over 1f out, no impression, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Spell Casting (9-11) at Newcastle 1m 2f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gd in Aug '07 (Flat).
Fair Shake (IRE) 4-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, ridden approaching 2 out, challenging when not fluent last, soon led, stayed on under pressure, won at Stratford 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy in Aug beating Queen Excalibur (9-11) by 6l, 6 ran.
Indefensible (IRE) 28-1 (10-5) Prominent, hit 1st ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 32l behind I'msingingtheblues (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Passato (GER) 25-1 (10-12) Moderate effort 6th, always well behind, 7th of 10, 27l behind Wyeth (10-12) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Saint Eric (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 5th, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 9l behind dhtrs Prince Taime (11-5) & Matuhi (11-5) at Southwell 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Spirit of Lake (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Led to 3rd, weakened after 5th, behind pulled up 2 out in race won by Cornas (10-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Apr, 16 ran.
Tchico Polos (FR) 6-1 (10-4) Good late headway, 2nd of 17, 3l behind Tsavo Ouest (10-8) at Pau 2m 1f 4yo hdl sft in Jan.
The Randy Bishop 40-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, pulled hard, headway after 3rd, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 11, 13l behind Dancing Mist (10-9) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Sept.
Topjeu (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next, no impression, 4th of 12, 17l behind Maslak (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Sept.
Disco Queen (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) In touch, headway 5th, weakened 6th, 9th of 12, well behind Supreme Being (11-5) at N Abbot 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gd in Aug.
Lady Lorins 50-1 (8-7) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 9, 23l behind What's Up Doc (9-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm (6) pol in Sept (Flat).
Newnham Flyer (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Stumbled 1st, lost touch from 3rd, tailed off when pulled up at the 6th in race won by Prince Vector (11-0) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Aug, 9 ran.
Ready To Crown (USA) 12-1 (9-9) Chased leader 2f, in touch, lost place over 4f out, headway 2f out, ran on well inside final furlong to lead last stride, won at Huntingdon 1m 6f nhf (5) gf in Nov beating Flying Squad (10-12) by a hd, 13 ran.
Opus Cafe (FR) 7-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off and pulled up in race won by Alcatras (11-8) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
